Measuring University Performance: Never Mind the Quality,Never Mind the Width?

After setting perfmance measurment in the context of the broader changes affecting universities the paper enquires how far the actual measures used to date by British universities reflect that wider environment. Detailed analysis of the indicators concerned indicates that most – particularly those developed by the CVCP/UGC – are narrowly conceived. The research selectivity measures of the UGC/UFC are more ambitious, but even these take little account of 'value-added' issues – and entirely fail to address teaching. Comparison with the best of US practice indicates that greater sophistication is technicalt) achievable. The failure, as yet, of the British system fully to explore issues of quality and relevance may be connected to the different snucture of the higher education sector in Britain, and in particular to the combination of a powerful, economy-minded central government with weak consumer power.