Projects / Programmes
Analiza učinkovitosti prepleta teorije in prakse preko inštituta mladih raziskovalcev (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.04.03 |
Social sciences |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Management |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.06 |
Social Sciences |
Political science |
Researchers (12)
Organisations (2)
Significance for science
This project was designed and completed at a rather high level in terms of technicalities, content and organization, especially concerning the application of the four research methods, i.e. questionnaire, focus groups, documents' analyses and structured interviews with participants from several countries worldwide. The combination of different research methods – in the last decade mainly the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods is used – can contribute to a greater validity and reliability of the research and its findings. The identified problem is not only discussed from various aspects in relation to content but also from various methodological perspectives, as this yields more data. Additionally, we gain more qualitative data. The usage itself, as well as the conclusions based on the combination of these methods, is undoubtedly an exemplary instance of exacting research work. Interdisciplinary collaboration among the members is thought of as exemplary as well, since the project demanded collaboration between diverse social science and natural science profiles, which enabled a broader perspective on the examined issues and addressed a wider range of difficulties.
The content of the project also contributes to the development of science. It is primarily related to research on the level of the programme for young researchers, although this programme is not unrelated to a wider context of Slovenian science. We identified some institutional issues reported by research participants. However, we did find some good practices, which are presented in more detail in the final project report. It is not only the programme for young researchers that depends on a further examination of these issues and implementation of good practices, but, at least partly, the future of Slovenian science as well.
In the course of the project, research findings were actively disseminated among lay and scientific public on the basis of normative-theoretical assumptions and empirical findings. Contributions were presented at many conferences. In the context of discussion, an article based on the interdependence of public expenditure and economic growth was published. The article includes an empirical analysis which incorporates the estimate of the amount of human capital in EU27, the estimate of the contribution of human capital to economic growth for each state in EU27 and the analysis of relationship between the contribution of human capital to economic growth and the amount of public expenditure on education. The research findings show 5.14% of GDP as the amount of public spending on education that maximises the contribution of human capital to economic growth. Another article, which directly discusses the issues of the project, was sent for review to an international magazine with an impact factor in April 2012. Its aim is to present young researchers' motivation for entering the programme and their assessment of the programme in relation to transferring knowledge into practice, which is the principal purpose of the programme. The article highlights that young researchers for economy are more involved in direct knowledge transfer and their motivation to do so is mainly intrinsic. On the other hand, university- and institute-based young researchers need several extrinsic incentives to cooperate in projects from economic sector, for their motivation is more oriented towards academic research. At the time of writing this report we did not receive a reply whether the proposed article was accepted for publishing in the above-mentioned magazine or not.
Significance for the country
Since 1985, Slovenia has offered the programme for young researchers, which is a process of formal as well as non-formal and informal learning. More than 6,200 young researchers have been involved in the programme since then. On average, the amount of approximately 30,000 EUR is spent annually per one young researcher. Accordingly, Slovenia annually assigns a relatively high amount of funding for the programme, which is seen as an investment in human capital. Human capital comprises competences, knowledge and skills which are used by individuals in their economic activities.
A research activity and one of its manifestations in the young researchers' programme is therefore one of the fundamental sources of improving society's human capital, which is successful only if it is properly connected with society through discourse. In Slovenia, there is an imbalance of attention devoted to researchers in higher education and their basic role in transferring their knowledge, which is also seen in a relative lack of research on young researchers' participation in commercial projects. We have not found analyses concerning effectiveness of the young researchers' programme, sociological and motivational aspects of involving young researchers in research work or transferring research findings into practice. Furthermore, as Slovenia has not defined mechanism for the model which effectively combines research activity with practice or a suitable model which implements the young researchers' programme in accordance with development needs of economy, non-economic sector and society, this further increases the relevance of this project.
We assumed that cooperation between university-based researchers and economic and non-economic domains is directly linked to the participation intent, which was confirmed by the research. Other predictors in the model are factors of internal motivation, the number of individual's (social) networks and individual's perception of the environment. The results show a direct positive correlation between experience within an industry and the availability of resources on the basis of established social networks, and between experiences within an industry and commercial behaviour of researchers. In contrast, factors such as commitment to one's institution, money as part of one’s value system and emotions related to the perception of a researcher's role have an indirect effect and are connected with intent and the actual cooperation of young researchers with economic and non-economic sectors later on. In addition, the rate of risk-taking tendency and subjective norms of faculty-based researchers' community have a direct and beneficial effect on the researchers' intent for commercial cooperation.
The particular significance of our research lies in offering an insight into international practices of conducting similar programmes. In general we conclude that the young researchers' programme is a relatively unique example of encouraging doctoral studies and research work both in Europe and selected transoceanic countries. Notwithstanding all the countries encourage and fund doctoral candidates in different, also comparable, ways, the status and role, as well as rights and obligations appertaining to them, were not identified by any of the compared countries.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
