Supporting unaffiliated researchers benefits academia: Opinion

Unaffiliated researchers should be supported in continuing their academic interests, as they bring unique benefits to the sector, writes Maria Cohut. Cohut describes the obstacles that unaffiliated researchers face when completing independent scholarship, which include the inability to access university libraries, journals, and other resources; no access to on-campus events; and reduced opportunities to access research funding. However, there are advantages to being outside academia, such as the ability to critique higher education. Cohut notes that unaffiliated researchers also bring more diversity to the sector. “If independent scholars feel barred from contributing to academe in their own way, this will only impoverish the research environment further,” writes Cohut. Times Higher Ed (Acct. Req.) Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.