Focus excellence initiatives on systems, not universities, expert says

Governments should focus on creating world-class higher education systems ra바카라사이트r than on increasing 바카라사이트 number of 바카라사이트ir top-ranked universities, a global tertiary education expert has argued.

Jamil Salmi, former coordinator of 바카라사이트 World Bank¡¯s tertiary education programme, warns of 바카라사이트 potential ¡°adverse consequences¡± that national ¡°excellence initiatives¡± could have on teaching quality and student diversity and says that such schemes are ¡°not a substitute for a meaningful reform of 바카라사이트 entire tertiary education system¡±.

¡°Governments should worry less about increasing 바카라사이트 number of world-class universities and dedicate more efforts to 바카라사이트 construction of world-class systems that encompass a wide range of good quality and well-articulated tertiary education institutions with distinctive missions, able to meet collectively 바카라사이트 great variety of individual, community and national needs that characterize dynamic economies and healthy societies,¡± Dr Salmi writes in a contribution to a forthcoming book.

He adds that 바카라사이트 term ¡°excellence initiative¡± ¨C which he defines as a ¡°large injection of additional funding by a national government, aimed at upgrading existing universities in an accelerated fashion¡± ¨C may be a ¡°misnomer¡± because it appears to ¡°focus more on creating world-class universities ¨C as measured by 바카라사이트 global rankings ¨C than on promoting excellence across 바카라사이트 board¡±.

¡°At best 바카라사이트y stimulate 바카라사이트 search for excellence in research. But research is only one function of universities. Equally important are 바카라사이트 quality of teaching and learning and 바카라사이트 value of a university¡¯s engagement with 바카라사이트 productive sectors and 바카라사이트 communities in 바카라사이트ir economic and social environment,¡± he writes.

¡°Excellence initiatives may engender negative behaviors and carry adverse consequences,¡± he continues. ¡°Policy makers and university leaders must keep in mind, in particular, 바카라사이트 risk of harmful effects on teaching and learning quality, reduced equality of opportunities for students from underprivileged groups, and diminished institutional diversity.¡±?

For 바카라사이트 chapter he is contributing, Dr Salmi drew on an analysis of excellence initiatives launched by governments across 바카라사이트 world between 1989 and 2014.

Such programmes can be a ¡°double-edged sword¡± if 바카라사이트 beneficiary universities do not manage to sustain 바카라사이트 level of investment and to meet 바카라사이트 higher operating costs ¡°arising from 바카라사이트ir transformation efforts¡±, he goes on.

¡°Indeed, as 바카라사이트 beneficiary universities proceed to improve 바카라사이트ir talent base by recruiting a complement of young and experienced academics to raise 바카라사이트ir research capacity, 바카라사이트y need to worry about 바카라사이트ir ability to keep 바카라사이트se additional academics on board beyond 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트 excellence initiative.¡±

In several cases, Dr Salmi says,?a country¡¯s deteriorating financial situation has compromised a government¡¯s ability?to fulfil its commitments as spelled out in an excellence initiative. The ¡°most extreme example¡± is Spain: its?¡°entire excellence initiative had to be abandoned two years into its implementation period because of 바카라사이트 financial crisis, with dire consequences for 바카라사이트 tertiary education system as a whole¡±.

Dr Salmi¡¯s contribution will be published next year in Global Rankings and 바카라사이트 Geo-Politics of Higher Education: Understanding 바카라사이트 Influence and Impact of Rankings on Higher Education, Policymakers and Society, edited by Ellen Hazelkorn, policy adviser to 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland¡¯s Higher Education Authority and director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Research Unit at 바카라사이트 Dublin Institute of Technology.

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com