Bridging the evidence use gap between higher education research and science studies, policy and practice – Notions and functions of intermediaries

Improving evidence utilisation by non-academic actors such as policymakers and communities of practice has become subject to widespread efforts. Researchers highlight intermediaries acting as an important third community between academic evidence producers and users such as policymakers but deem this an overlooked area of inquiry. This paper aims to encourage a broader discussion about the role of intermediaries in bridging the evidence use gap at the interface between academia in higher education research and science studies, related policy fields, and communities of practice. Based on empirical research identified in a scoping review of studies about evidence use published between 2010 and 2022, it summarises what we know about intermediaries in this specific sector and how they contribute to facilitating evidence use. The paper concludes by discussing desiderata and the potential for further empirical research.