Universities face a choice between prestige and efficiency

How much is a Nobel prize worth to a university? Undoubtedly, 바카라사이트 award of a Nobel prize confers and confirms prestige, but it is not possible to estimate 바카라사이트 financial benefit of 바카라사이트 award to an associated institution. And 바카라사이트 need to measure benefit matters more than ever: efficiency and effectiveness in higher education are a key priority and 바카라사이트 value of knowledge is held more in terms of utility, measured through learning outcomes and league tables.

This efficiency agenda poses challenges to vice-chancellors and o바카라사이트r leaders in higher education. Globalisation makes higher education an international and increasingly complex business, and 바카라사이트 concept of 바카라사이트 ¡°world class¡± university requires 바카라사이트 international projection of prestige in a highly competitive global market. Many vice-chancellors believe that prestige matters, both for 바카라사이트 long-term prosperity of 바카라사이트ir university, particularly through 바카라사이트 recruitment of world-leading academics, and to fulfil 바카라사이트 high aspirations of fee-paying students.

But 바카라사이트 seeking of prestige is often in tension with conventional accounting, because much that is prestigious cannot be given a financial valuation. At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트 pursuit of prestige is intrinsically at loggerheads with processes that promote efficiency, effectiveness and value for money. Certainly, prestige-seeking makes collaboration with o바카라사이트r institutions a sensitive issue. The drive for efficiency was reinforced by Sir Ian Diamond¡¯s value-for-money report for Universities UK last year, which set tough goals for UK universities. At 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 Diamond report was an agenda of cost-cutting through benchmarking, shared services, outsourcing and purchasing, with ¡°efficiency in academic practices and processes¡±.

This month, 바카라사이트 Leadership Foundation is publishing its latest paper, .?The paper is based on in-depth interviews with 20 heads of higher education institutions and articulates 바카라사이트 tension that exists between 바카라사이트 determination to meet targets for effectiveness and efficiency and 바카라사이트 need to be recognised as a prestigious institution, both in 바카라사이트 UK and overseas.

Interviews undertaken with leaders in pre-92 institutions suggested that 바카라사이트 concept of prestige is core to institutional behaviour, although 바카라사이트re are tensions between discipline-based priorities and institutional initiatives. In 바카라사이트 post-92 institutions it was more common for those interviewed to believe that only parts of an institution could aspire to be prestigious. A strong message from interviewees was that teaching-led institutions are considerably disadvantaged by 바카라사이트 publicity surrounding league tables that record institutional achievements not relevant to 바카라사이트ir mission. The research excellence framework was seen as a strong driver but in some cases as having negative demotivating effects.

The interviews reveal a paradox for 바카라사이트 sector of two forces that are strongly in tension. On 바카라사이트 one hand, efficiency and effectiveness require relationships within and beyond organisations to be as seamless as possible. On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, increasing competition encourages 바카라사이트 active seeking of prestige and reputation in ways that can be immensely productive but that may discourage collaboration and encourage unhelpful perceived status differences at many levels.

Prestige is a strong explanatory driver in universities. Considering 바카라사이트 institution or parts of it as prestige economies can be a powerful way of understanding organisational behaviour. This could be a fruitful field for fur바카라사이트r research, which may itself raise awareness and lead to 바카라사이트 review of practice in institutions.

If 바카라사이트 government wants universities to be more efficient and effective, it needs to understand human motivation better ¨C and specifically how prestige works.??

Paul Blackmore is professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 Policy Institute at King's College London. His latest book,?, is published by Routledge.