Expert group to propose including more communication in third cycle education

Pandemics, AI, energy needs and climate threats – society and business are constantly in need of new scientifically based knowledge. Researchers, on their part, want to reach out more than they have time for. This is shown in the study "Jag vill men hinner inte – Forskares syn på kommunikation och öppen vetenskap” (“I want to but don’t have time – Researchers’ views on communication and open science”) from 2019, which also establishes that many researchers would need help and training in working with communication and dialogue.

Today, communication training is not a mandatory part of third cycle education, although several higher education institutions (HEIs) offer courses and coaching in communication.

Together with Örebro University, the Swedish Research Council has therefore taken the initiative for a dialogue about how science communication can become a natural part of third cycle higher education. A group of researchers and communicators will hold discussions to work out a proposal for a course syllabus for communication. The participants come from various HEIs and research fields, and have themselves taken initiatives to promote a dialogue about research. The proposal will be tested at Örebro University as a first step during 2021.

“Reaching out and talking about research and research results are important parts of the research process, and many researchers are very good at it. This initiative strengthens the development and coordinates inputs nationally, so that more young researchers have the opportunity to develop their communicative competence within the framework for third cycle higher education,” says Sven Stafström, Director General of the Swedish Research Council.

“It is great that Örebro University is getting the chance to take part in and contribute to this important development. We know that many of our researchers fervently wish to talk about their research and reach out, but we also know that many are asking for more tools and more training to feel confident when meeting the media and other important target groups. We will be carrying out a pilot course during 2021, where researchers and communicators collaborate to create this training for doctoral students,” says Sara Arvidson, Head of Communications at Örebro University.