A strong research infrastructure is a prerequisite for good education policy. The Education Council advises the Minister to ensure that a broad spectrum of research is available and utilised for policy development. Additionally, the Council points out the opportunity for the Minister to boost relevant yet vulnerable academic disciplines, such as educational law and pedagogy.
Beeld: © Onderwijsraad
At the request of the Minister, the Council will issue an advisory report on what is needed for a well-functioning research infrastructure for education policy.
Get the conditions for research infrastructure in order
Civil servants are not merely executors of political decisions. They also carry an independent responsibility to properly inform and advise ministers. This requires that a broad spectrum of research is available and actively drawn upon in policy development.
The Council advises the Minister, together with the Board of Directors, to create a working environment where the conditions for a sound education policy research infrastructure are in place. First, the Council emphasizes the importance of civil service craft, where civil servants have the scope to contribute to sound policy based on research insights - even if those insights conflict with the prevailing political policy line. Second, the Council highlights the importance of the availability and use of a broad range of research, paying attention to technical-instrumental, historical, conceptual-theoretical and normative questions. Third, the Council underscores the importance of a collective institutional memory, focusing on solid subject-matter knowledge and research literacy.
Continuity of relevant academic disciplines
Various academic (sub)disciplines are relevant to making education policy. The Council points out to the Minister the latitude to stimulate the development of small and vulnerable disciplines - for example, by establishing an academic chair. Examples include educational law, history of education, educational pedagogy and education-focused specialisations within public administration and policy sciences. It is crucial that these fields of study can continue to inform and shape education policy.