11175: Building Bridges: Enhancing Researcher-Practitioner Collaboration in Career Research

“There’s nothing so practical as a good theory.” – Lewin (1951, p. 169) ”There’s nothing so theoretical as good practice.” – Ployhart & Bartunek (2019, p. 493) What is the purpose of academic research if it cannot, in the short or long term, lead to meaningful real-world impact? Our PDW emphasizes the essential role of science in generating knowledge that not only advances theory but also creates societal value. Achieving this requires mutual understanding, respect, and effective communication as well as collaboration between academics and practitioners. The research-practice gap in management is a persistent issue characterized by discrepancies between academic knowledge and practitioner beliefs (Tenhiälä et al., 2016; Sartori et al., 2020). This gap fluctuates over time due to divergent diffusion cycles in academia and practice (de Man et al., 2020). Causes include communication barriers, methodological issues, and limited accessibility of research (Negt & Haunschild, 2024). Furthermore, recent research highlights a growing concern that scientific endeavors may not adequately address pressing real-world challenges. Several studies propose strategies to align research with practical and societal needs, including promoting interdisciplinary research through university leadership and individual research agendas (Kroll & Schubert, 2023). This PDW unpacks these challenges and explores strategies to connect research and practice, discovering how collaborations can be powerful agents of meaningful transformation. The session aims to empower participants to effectively shape and enhance practice-science collaborations within their professional context through inputs, plenary discussions, and roundtables with experts of successful practice-science collaborations.

Pre-registration is required for this workshop. The registration deadline is June 30, 2025, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. As space is limited to 40 participants, selection will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Early applications are highly encouraged. The workshop will take place on-site and in person (not online). By applying, you confirm your availability to attend in person. To apply, please email the following information to the organizers at domingo.valero@hslu.ch: 1. Full Name 2. School/University/Affiliation/Organization 3. Are you a Practitioner or a Researcher? (Or a hybrid role?) 4. Your Experience with Practitioner-Researcher Collaborations (Very briefly describe past collaborations, challenges, or interest in this topic) 5. Why Are You Interested in This Workshop? (How does it relate to your work, and what do you hope to gain?)