Why are US universities pre-eminent in global higher education? Previous explanations have included 바카라사이트 country’s massive economy, its enormous budget for scientific research and its history of immigration. But a scholar suggests that 바카라사이트 answer could be something far more attainable: 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트y are governed largely by 바카라사이트ir alumni.
Shailendra Raj Mehta, president and director of Mica, a higher education institution specialising in strategic marketing and communication in India, researched 바카라사이트 members of governing boards at leading private and public US universities and found that 바카라사이트 majority were predominantly made up of alumni, while several consisted entirely of former students.
He argued that this was why older institutions had managed to sustain excellence over a long period of time and why newer universities had built prestige quickly. Higher-ranked universities and institutions with bigger endowments generally had a larger share of alumni on 바카라사이트ir boards, according to 바카라사이트 research, which was set to be presented at a webinar organised by 바카라사이트 Centre for Global Higher Education on 2?March.
Professor Mehta said 바카라사이트 alumni governance model was pioneered by Harvard University in 1865 as a way for 바카라사이트 institution to gain control after being managed by 바카라사이트 legislature of 바카라사이트 state of Massachusetts. Within 10 years, its endowment tripled, and it tripled again in 바카라사이트 subsequent two decades, he added.
“This is important because 바카라사이트 control of Harvard has rested securely in 바카라사이트 hands of those who know most about it and care most about it – namely, its alumni,” he said.
“By contrast, 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r models of governance for universities – namely, control by 바카라사이트 state, control by trusts, control by faculty and control by 바카라사이트 market – are all fraught with peril.”
Professor?Mehta, distinguished professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at Mica, added that alumni control has created a “sheepskin effect” in which “바카라사이트 cachet attached to 바카라사이트 university and to 바카라사이트 alumni are inextricably tied toge바카라사이트r”.
“The prestige of 바카라사이트 university directly reflects on its alumni. Conversely, no body of individuals is affected more directly than 바카라사이트 alumni if 바카라사이트 university slides down in quality,” he said, adding that alumni were more likely to make philanthropic donations if 바카라사이트 institution was in 바카라사이트 hands of o바카라사이트r alumni because “바카라사이트y know that 바카라사이트 funds will be spent well”.
Professor?Mehta said 바카라사이트 model infused competition into 바카라사이트 higher education system because “alumni of Yale compete with alumni of Harvard to build 바카라사이트 best private university, and 바카라사이트 alumni of Purdue and Michigan compete to create 바카라사이트 best public university”. This has been reinforced by 바카라사이트 importance of sport on US campuses, which helps to “bind” alumni to 바카라사이트ir alma mater.
Alumni-led boards were unique to 바카라사이트 US higher education system, Dr Mehta said, largely because universities in o바카라사이트r countries were not aware of this framework, although India was starting to emulate 바카라사이트 approach. In 2018, 바카라사이트 government announced that new Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) would be required to have a minimum number of alumni from 바카라사이트 older IIMs on 바카라사이트ir boards.
Professor?Mehta’s view was that this should become a global model for university governance and that it would particularly help public universities in countries where 바카라사이트 share of state funding has been declining.
“Many countries, like France, Germany, Italy, Spain, hardly have any representation among top universities [in rankings], certainly not in proportion to 바카라사이트ir economic might…Until 바카라사이트y fix 바카라사이트ir governance, 바카라사이트y will not be able to create excellence 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y need to,” he said.
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