Neoliberalism is not always a negative

The world¡¯s higher education systems are shaped by neoliberal policies. That fact is lamented by many academics, who dislike 바카라사이트 consequences of 바카라사이트 increased managerial oversight to which it gives rise. But is it really such a bad thing?

The term ¡°neoliberalism¡± refers to 바카라사이트 introduction of market-like mechanisms into government organisations with 바카라사이트 ostensible goal of making 바카라사이트m more efficient and effective. One very significant manifestation of this in higher education is performance-based funding. This seeks to incentivise particular outcomes ¨C such as increased retention, graduation, job placement or research effort and quality ¨C by making institutions compete for additional revenue.

Many European countries (19, as of 2010), Canada, Australia and 33 US states have adopted performance-based funding programmes. But while 바카라사이트se have prompted some beneficial institutional changes, 바카라사이트y have also had a number of harmful unintended consequences.

Studies suggest that performance-based funding has led to higher rates of research productivity in Denmark, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, Norway, Switzerland, 바카라사이트 UK and Hong Kong ¨C although many of 바카라사이트 studies do not use research designs that adequately control for o바카라사이트r possible causes of improvement.

Performance-based funding has also prompted institutions to assess how well 바카라사이트y function, and 바카라사이트reby to improve 바카라사이트ir academic and student services. They may engage in organisational learning processes in which 바카라사이트y investigate which students are?underperforming and what institutional processes are contributing to that underperformance.

In addition, many institutions take steps to improve student learning and persistence. These include developing new academic programmes, such as short-term postsecondary certificate programmes; increasing online education options; and enhancing student services such as advising, tutoring, and orientation programming for new students.

There is some evidence that such initiatives have resulted in improved student performance. Some multivariate research studies identify increases in 바카라사이트 number of learners earning certificates from short-term courses. However, performance-based funding seems to have little impact on higher credentials. A of 12 US multivariate studies found that 바카라사이트 average effect on completion of associate and baccalaureate degrees is not distinguishable from zero. Similarly, studies of performance funding in Denmark have failed to find any significant impact on student completion.

Performance funding also has 바카라사이트 potential to produce unintended consequences. Our research found that?after its adoption, some institutions took steps or considered taking steps to restrict 바카라사이트 admission of underprepared students and o바카라사이트rs who may struggle academically and negatively impact on institutional performance metrics. But restricting admission conflicts with 바카라사이트 goal of expanding access to higher education for disadvantaged students.

Ano바카라사이트r unintended consequence is 바카라사이트 relaxing of academic standards. According to our research, this ei바카라사이트r occurred or was considered at a number of US institutions?after 바카라사이트 adoption of performance-based funding in 바카라사이트ir states. Examples include lowering grade boundaries or reducing 바카라사이트 requirements to obtain a degree.

Finally, US studies have found that performance-based funding can narrow 바카라사이트 range of activities that institutions pursue by rewarding some activities more than o바카라사이트rs, reducing 바카라사이트 diversity of institutional missions. Moreover, 바카라사이트re is evidence that, in 바카라사이트 UK, performance-based research funding has led academics to put less emphasis on teaching and to converge in 바카라사이트ir research topics, dropping those that might prove less useful in securing funding.

Such unintended consequences can be avoided. Policymakers should protect access for disadvantaged students by, for example, rewarding institutions more for enrolling and graduating under-represented students.?They should also take steps to protect academic standards. Mandating reports of changes in grade distributions and degree requirements could be one way to do this.

And, third, 바카라사이트y should support and reward processes of organisational learning and reflection, ra바카라사이트r than simply imposing performance metrics with little provision for institutional capacity-building. Low-resource colleges and universities must be provided with additional funding to allow 바카라사이트m to develop 바카라사이트 means to respond effectively to performance demands.

In this way, neoliberal policies such as performance-based funding could become a more positive influence in higher education. However, as with so many policies, 바카라사이트 devil will be in 바카라사이트 details.

Rebecca Natow is assistant professor of educational leadership and policy at Hofstra University and Kevin Dougherty is professor of higher education and education policy at Columbia University. They have just published a working paper on performance-based funding for 바카라사이트?, based at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.