The role of entrepreneurial and policy ‘pracademics’: an exploratory study

In brief, the argument of the paper is that there is unfulfilled potential to generate creative synergies between researchers, practitioners and policymakers by enhancing the role and impact of ‘pracademics’ who have a combination of academic, business and policy experience. However, this potential is being held back by the many practical, cultural and institutional barriers that exist within our universities and business schools. In particular, academic career pathways continue to privilege conventional ‘academic’ metrics and tend not to reward professional and practical expertise and achievement. One result is that practitioners that join HE often become quickly disillusioned and feel that their potential contribution to teaching and research is not recognised or rewarded.

What is to be done? This paper focuses on the need to reform academic career structures, promotion criteria and research assessment processes to reflect the emerging reality that academic careers are increasingly non-linear and variable, with researchers moving more often between different roles within and beyond the university system. Research assessment criteria and processes need to recognise that high quality, impactful research can occur in a range of contexts, drawing on diverse talents and experiences. We explore how this might work in relation to entrepreneurs and policymakers as ‘pracademics’.

Applicability to the conference theme
Research needs to be relevant to policy and practice in a range of different contexts. One way of achieving this is to ensure that people with diverse practical and professional experiences are fully engaged in the research process. Creating long term opportunities for ‘pracademics’ and reforming career structures and cultures within universities is one way to address existing barriers to effective integration and synergy between these key groups.

Aim
The paper is intended as a provocation and a call for further debate, to move beyond anecdotal evidence and entrenched thinking towards approaches that benefit those of us who strive to support the development of high quality, relevant and impactful research.

Methodology
This paper is based on a review of the literature and evidence relating to ‘pracademia’, together with three vignettes illustrating different career paths. It is partly autoethnographic, drawing on the author’s experiences and observations over a 35-year pracademic career.

Contribution
The paper draws attention to a significant potential barrier to the generation of high quality, impactful research in entrepreneurship. It suggests some potential ways forward, focusing on research assessment reform, new career pathways and, crucially, genuine culture change.

Implications for policy and practice
More effective integration of ‘pracademics’ into the entrepreneurship research community and the provision of meaningful career progression opportunities will enhance the relevance of research to policy and practice.