Knowledge mobilisation strategies for responsible and inclusive academic research

Abstract

The present article introduces the concept of knowledge mobilisation (KMb) strategies in university research by linking university social responsibility with the concept of inclusive and responsible research, which implies an ethical perspective of equity and inclusion in responding to citizens’ needs. The study objective is to discover the ethical position and KMb strategies in 80 research groups from five European countries. The amount and type of strategies applied are analysed from information gathered in semi-structured interviews and from KMb indicators. The results show that these strategies are still not widely used and point to four key elements in researchers’ ethical positions: commitment, knowledge recognition, dialogue and cooperation. Strategies range from the initial formulation of the research problem to a sustainability plan for the research projects. The conclusions identify an emancipatory ethical perspective that rebalances power relationships between researchers and stakeholders, but that generates tension with public research policies and research quality evaluation criteria.