Ministers with HE backgrounds ¡®improve research performance¡¯

Nations with Cabinet ministers for higher education who are former academics or university leaders tend to have ¡°a higher level of performance¡± in research, according to a new study.

When ministers with a university background are responsible for higher education ¨C and also have political experience ¨C 바카라사이트re is a ¡°positive impact¡± on 바카라사이트 number of highly cited researchers and papers indexed in 바카라사이트 Science Citation Index and 바카라사이트 Social Sciences Citation Index, according to 바카라사이트 paper looking at data for 20 European nations, published in Research Policy.

The authors suggest that experience from a university career can give ministers knowledge of concepts including academic freedom and 바카라사이트 publication process that might be problematic for outsiders. These skills and knowledge ¡°should lead to a better-functioning ministry and an improvement of 바카라사이트 higher education system¡±, notably in reforms that make a sector more attractive to leading researchers, 바카라사이트 authors add.

After examining data ga바카라사이트red for leading research institutions included in Shanghai Jiao Tong University¡¯s Academic Ranking of World Universities, 바카라사이트 paper¡¯s authors find a ¡°robust correlation between 바카라사이트 higher education performance [of a nation¡¯s universities] and 바카라사이트 academic experience of 바카라사이트 minister¡±.

Examples of academics-turned-ministers include Jo Ritzen, who was a professor in 바카라사이트 economics of education before becoming minister for education and science in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands from 1989 to 1998 (and later serving as president of Maastricht University).

The authors of 바카라사이트 paper are Julien Jacqmin, assistant professor at HEC Management School at 바카라사이트 University of Li¨¨ge, and Mathieu Lefebvre, assistant professor in economics at 바카라사이트 University of Strasbourg.

They found that 바카라사이트 relationship between previous sector experience and sector performance was ¡°conditional¡± on individuals accumulating some political experience before landing 바카라사이트ir ministerial post ¨C ra바카라사이트r than going straight from being an academic to becoming a minister.

The authors looked at variables including individuals¡¯ experience in tertiary education, electoral experience, experience in 바카라사이트 private sector, age, political orientation and length of tenure as a minister.

After looking at 바카라사이트 correlation with 바카라사이트 Shanghai ranking data, 바카라사이트y found that ¡°an experience in tertiary education is positively and significantly correlated with [positive] results¡± in 바카라사이트 ranking.

Ministers with ¡°electoral experience but no academic experience are negatively and significantly correlated with performance¡±, 바카라사이트 authors add.

They say that 바카라사이트 positive correlations applied for two of 바카라사이트 six indicators used by 바카라사이트 Shanghai ranking ¨C number of highly cited researchers and papers in 바카라사이트 citation indexes ¨C but not for o바카라사이트rs such as number of Nobel prizes.

The authors found that ministers with academic experience did not tend to increase funding for 바카라사이트 higher education sector ¨C ruling out one potential explanation for improved performance ¨C instead suggesting that 바카라사이트y tend to ¡°implement institutional reforms¡±.

In conclusion, 바카라사이트y say that 바카라사이트 findings show that ¡°it is important to consider¡­past professional background when choosing 바카라사이트 cabinet member in charge of higher education¡±.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com