Ranking of rankings: benchmarking twenty-five higher education ranking systems in Europe

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ranking practices of 25 European higher education ranking systems (HERSs). Ranking practices were assessed with 14 quantitative measures derived from the Berlin Principles on Ranking of Higher Education Institutions (BPs). HERSs were then ranked according to their degree of congruence with the BPs. Additionally, the three domains of methodology, transparency, and consumer-friendliness were proposed to underlie the BPs, and the measures were also applied for assessing HERSs regarding these domains. Results indicate that the cooperating HERSs by CHE (Germany), AQA (Austria) and swissUp (Switzerland) exhibit the highest congruence with the BPs. However, no European HERS demonstrates good overall congruence with the BPs, mainly due to methodological shortcomings. Results further show that HERSs compiled and published by non-profit research entities seem to perform better than the majority of HERSs published by for-profit news outlets. International comparisons indicate that HERSs published in German-speaking countries and the Netherlands tend to exhibit a higher congruence with the BPs. Overall, this study hopes to stimulate the improvement of ranking practices through benchmarking with existing exemplary models. The quantitative assessment tool further promises to be useful in explaining relative stability or change of higher education institutions in HERSs, as well as in helping to explain resource allocation pressures within higher education institutions.     

Comparing higher education systems

This paper discusses the range of comparative studies which might legitimately be attempted. It considers the separate issue of whether they must necessarily be directed towards the testing of pre-constructed hypotheses. It describes how the Brunel-Gothenburg-Bergen international team is attempting to compare their three national systems and academic working within them.     

西欧中世纪大学对现代西方国家高等教育的影响

西欧中世纪大学是现代西方国家高等教育的雏形,对现代西方国家高等教育产生着深刻的影响。西方现代大学的许多特征都源于中世纪大学,如学科分类、课程设置、教学方法、学位制度等都是直接从中世纪大学继承而来的。研究中世纪大学对我们了解西方现代大学具有重要的理论意义和现实意义。     

Structural changes in Japan's higher education system-from a planning to a market model

The Japanese pattern of development in post-war higher education hasbeen created by changes in the balance between two forces, that of expansion(exemplified particularly in the private sector) and that of control(manifested most frequently by government planners). The article identifiescycles of expansion and consolidation corresponding to changes in socialcircumstances. The most important of these social factors has been theimpact of demographic variations on demand and supply. The author shows howgovernment control was significantly eroded by the double impact of the"second baby boom generation" and the resulting prompt responseby the private sector to the relatively sudden increase in demand. In effectJapanese higher education could be said to be moving towards the marketmodel of provision as institutions, mindful of the prospect of decliningcohorts in the future, seek to maintain their levels of recruitment. Thearticle considers some of the changes in the system which are likely to beintroduced in response to the changed circumstances of the year 2000 andbeyond, including those which focus upon the maintenance of educationalquality.     

Patterns of subsidies to higher education in Europe

The patterns of government subsidies to higher education in France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (UK) are compared and contrasted. The subsidies are subsequently evaluated in the light of stated policy objectives, with particular attention to the objectives of efficiency and equity. Two extreme models of financing are considered; one in which public subsidy covers 100 per cent of the private costs of higher education, including income forgone by students, the other in which public subsidy to students is kept at a minimum. The study concludes that the ideal package from the standpoint of efficiency and equity is (1) a grants system in the last few years of secondary education; (2) a system of fees equal to about 30–50 per cent of institutional incomes and (3) an income contingent loan scheme (or graduate tax) for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.The research for this paper was sponsored by the United States Education Policy Research Center for Higher Education and Society under HEW Contract No. 300-76-0026. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Center. Our thanks are due to J. Froomkin for valuable comments on an earlier draft.     

高等教育的结构变化

本文从高等教育系统和大学这两个层次分别论述了20世纪90年代以来日本高等教育的重大的结构变化,并着重分析了产生这些变化的原因,包括大众化,市场化和全球化这三个国际大趋势及日本国内的人口、经济和政策方面的变化等,最后指出这次结构改革成功的关键是要建立一个崭新的健全的高等教育评价系统。     

Structural determinants of interinstitutional cooperation in higher education

Five interorganizational relationships among higher educational institutions, representing major structural and functional variations, were studied intensively using field research procedures to elucidate determinants of successful cooperative activities. Among the factors to be taken into account relative to the operational success of voluntary consortia are member institutional prestige, strength, developmental level, and climate. Further, problem solving and resource distribution, as two major benefits of cooperation, result in different interorganizational patterns.     

A multi-disciplinary collaborative project developing public health higher education in four higher education institutes in Africa and Europe

The HEI-ICI project involves cooperation between the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and three African partners. The main aim of the project, now in its fourth year, has been to develop education in health sciences and to improve the quality of teaching. The target has been to develop the skills of selected junior faculty from the Public Health departments, library and IT centres at partner universities. The data was collected during the project in 2010–2014. Written and visual material was analysed using deductive content analysis. The main obstacles researchers were faced with while working in the project have been cultural: the project encouraged different cultures – not only European and African but also pan-African – to meet and work together. This novel approach to learning and teaching is based on the concept of cooperation, collaboration and trust between all of the participating partners; its foundation is the full ownership by the less developed Southern partner institutions.