Beyond the University Archive: Why Today's Research Deserves a Worldwide Audience.

Many students and researchers will feel that a thesis signifies the completion of an exhausting academic endeavor. For years, scholars are pushed to analyze data, write chapters, and argue ideas in front of academic panels. Once completed and submitted however, a thesis tends to fall into the depths of the university archive, an accessible entity where it remains for the remainder of its lifespan and rarely accessed. This outcome is one of the greatest missed opportunities within academia today.

In the world that we live in today, research is no longer an assessment of the academic quality of student's understanding of a subject. Rather, a thesis is a reflection of academic potential, understanding of subject matter, and ability to generate new ideas, that has the power to impact industries, institutions, and nations globally.

Within the world of the modern professional, it is increasingly common to value analytically thinking, and evidence based, subject matter experts. Research embodies precisely these characteristics. An academic piece of research (like a thesis), is in its most fundamental form proof that an individual can develop complex thoughts and ideas, critically evaluate them, and provide an answer to the debate surrounding the subject, within an academic and scholarly community. These skills, as demonstrated through a thesis, will always be valuable, be that in the business world, education, healthcare, technology, the public sector, and throughout the echelons of leadership.

It is of course, rare that a researcher will believe they need to work on the dissemination of their thesis at the very end of a degree completion. While it is expected for the writer to produce, and present, a piece of research it is never truly considered part of that thesis at any other time. This is one of the many failures of the modern academic tradition; we are taught how to write critically, but rarely how to communicate and inspire. This can therefore only ever limit how our ideas could, or would have, benefited society.

However, through technological advances, this has dramatically changed. Researchers are now able to disseminate information on a global level; they can utilize online publishing platforms, social networking sites (like Linkedin and Researchgate), digital media, and virtual learning communities to spread their research. These sites enable researchers to reach international audiences without any reliance whatsoever on university or traditional research institutions.

The benefits associated with this widespread dissemination are numerous; the academic becomes an expert, can provide consulting advice, gain international connections, be invited for interviews and as a keynote speaker at conferences, obtain additional advisory roles and partnerships in academia or within business circles, and even, on some occasions, become a leading authority in their respective field. This, within the modern world of work, has become increasingly valuable and in many areas equally important as any formally attained qualification.

The way a researcher communicates their work also appears to be an important consideration, given the fact that while an academic research thesis should always present evidence and logical reasoning in its defense and construction, much of society prefers accessible information. Communicating research into more broadly understandable terms and contexts (for example as a blog post, presentation, podcast or book) means a wider audience will be reached.

Universities and organizations have realized that knowledge does have its place in applied use and research collaborations are increasingly common to find research solutions to problems and enhance systems, and thereby innovation. The researcher no longer need always be confined within academic communities but has the opportunity to actively contribute to practical real world use of data and information.

Fundamentally, research offers the opportunity for true social, and professional impact. From changing policy to improving educational methods, and assisting the development of new technologies, research has an increasingly significant role to play. Research's true meaning therefore lies in its capacity to initiate and affect positive change across all levels of society and industries.

Research is in its modern form, a more diverse, international, and fluid undertaking than at any other time. The researcher today is more than a scientist or academic, but a thought leader, educator, consultant, innovator, and even public intellectual that contributes to a variety of different, complex societal and business discourse.

Finally, a thesis should be considered the start and not the finish line of research. An undergraduate dissertation can therefore be seen as a springboard for long term visibility, influence and career advancement; and it is for this reason, amongst many others, that research should be accessible to the world.

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