Abstract:

Achieving an appropriate combination of teaching and research as the two key elements of education offered by the institutions of higher education in the world has been and is a challenging task for the educational leadership and policy makers. Therefore, this paper is dedicated to analyze the existing theories of teaching and research integration with a purpose of: diagnosing the costs and benefits of teaching and research integration; identifying implications associated with the education model based on teaching and research integration; and finally, presenting certain specific recommendations for the institutions of higher education to achieve a better combination between teaching and research activities. The paper´s findings suggest that a balanced combination of teaching and research activities affects positively the overall education quality and standards. Nonetheless, in order to create optimal conditions for such a strategic integration, institutions of higher education must demonstrate a strong leadership, commit resources, show organizational flexibility and build supportive institutional culture.