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The missions of both general inspectors and researchers can be defined in the same terms (except for the compliance function) and this could lead to an element of competition between them. Still to be achieved is a mutual recognition of their respective skills. General inspectors become “experts” along a different pathway from the one followed by researchers; researchers do not make recommendations to policy deciders, which is an important function of general inspectors. However, the approaches of both are complementary, which is why both often appear together in staff development contexts and in governmental policy discussions. A clear understanding of the differences between general inspectors and researchers guarantees effective collaboration between them and an effective mediation of the work of researchers within the educational context.