The evolution of the Learning and Skills Research Network: 20 years of fostering the interplay of research evidence between policy makers, administrators, sector leaders and other practitioners. Now Looking to the Future.

Two decades on from its formation the Learning and Skills Research Network (LSRN) is the only independent research network in England that continues to bring together people from all parts of the further education sector, from... [ view full abstract ]

Two decades on from its formation the Learning and Skills Research Network (LSRN) is the only independent research network in England that continues to bring together people from all parts of the further education sector, from higher education and from teacher education and professional development (https://lsrn.wordpress.com/about/history/).In doing so, the network links leaders and practitioners with educational administrators and policymakers. In November 2017 more than 30 delegates attended the ‘Looking to the Future’ Workshop (https://lsrn.wordpress.com/news-events/1705-workshop-workplace-skills-and-qualifications-evidence-and-policy/)wherebuilding on the experience of LSRN to develop a new meta-network was seen as having significant potential to sustain and enhance the use of research evidence in rapidly changing local, national and international contexts.

This conference paper will be centred on defining the key features and values of LSRN that have under pinned its sustainability and critically review these against a suitable theoretical framework. This analysis will be informed by the literature on network interactions including the roles of ‘actors’ and ‘relationships’; trust-based and forma larrangements; and proximity theory (Monge & Contractor, 2003), and will include the influence of virtual networks (Co-Tech https://www.coops.tech/)

Flow of information has been a key part of LSRN activity and literature relating to knowledge brokerage(Vanhoof and Mahieu 2013; Kislov, Wilson and Boaden 2016) will also inform the theoretical framework. The positioning of LSRN as an intermediary between policy administrators and sector practitioners has been framed by three types of activities (https://lsrn.wordpress.com/):information management, linkage and exchange; and capacity building. Underpinning these activities are attributes linked to credibility, understanding of different cultures, and independence (Professors Ann-Marie Bathmaker and Kevin Orr discussant feedback LSRN 8^th November 2017,Hillier and Morris 2010, Appleby and Hiller 2011).

The framework will be used to inform a short empirical study to test the validity of a ‘meta-network’ construct. This will draw on Strategic Network Analysis (Scott and Carrington2011) supplemented by semi structured interviews with LSRN members and contributors. It is anticipated that the paper will be of relevance to BELMAS members with interests linked to illuminating the interplay between the use of research evidence and policymakers overtime. It will also be informative to leaders using evidence based approaches to underpin and sustain organisational improvement.