The communication function of universities: is there a place for science communication?

Entradas, Marta ORCID: 0000-0001-7146-9912, Bauer, Martin W., Marcinkowski, Frank and Pellegrini, Giuseppe (2023) The communication function of universities: is there a place for science communication? Minerva. ISSN 0026-4695

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Abstract

This article offers a view on the emerging practice of managing external relations of the modern university, and the role of science communication in this. With a representative sample of research universities in four countries, we seek to broaden our understanding of the science communication (SC) function and its niche within the modern university. We distinguish science communication from corporate communication functions and examine how they distribute across organisational levels. We find that communication functions can be represented along a spectrum of (de)centralisation: public relations and marketing activities are more likely carried out at the central level (central offices), and public affairs and SC activities are more likely carried out at decentral levels (e.g. in specific offices and/or research institutes, departments). This study shows that little attention is paid to science communication at central structures, suggesting that it is not a practice that aligns easily with university corporate communication, yet SC might find its niche increasingly in decentral locations of activity.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2023, The Author(s).
Divisions:	Sociology Psychological and Behavioural Science
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications H Social Sciences L Education
Date Deposited:	27 Jul 2023 23:24
Last Modified:	15 Apr 2024 20:06
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/119855

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