Classifying European Institutions of Higher Education Phase II Frans van Vught

Classifying European Classifying European Institutions of Higher EducationInstitutions of Higher Education

Phase IIPhase II

Frans van VughtFrans van Vught

European Higher EducationEuropean Higher EducationEuropean Higher EducationEuropean Higher Education

Diversity is a strengthDiversity is a strength

But what do we know about it?But what do we know about it?

DiversityDiversity: the : the levellevel of variety in a of variety in a system at a specific point in timesystem at a specific point in time

DifferentiationDifferentiation: the : the processprocess in in which the diversity of a system which the diversity of a system increasesincreases

DefinitionsDefinitionsDefinitionsDefinitions

external diversity: external diversity: differences differences betweenbetween entities in a system entities in a system

internal diversity: internal diversity: differences differences withinwithin entities in a system entities in a system

A General DistinctionA General DistinctionA General DistinctionA General Distinction

systemic/structural/institutional systemic/structural/institutional diversity: diversity: the level of variety in the level of variety in different different types of institutionstypes of institutions

program diversity: program diversity: the level of the level of variety in variety in types of programstypes of programs offered offered

In Higher EducationIn Higher EducationIn Higher EducationIn Higher Education

A European system during the A European system during the Middle AgesMiddle Ages

Three types of institutions in Early Three types of institutions in Early Modern Europe (1500-1800)Modern Europe (1500-1800)

History of Diversity in History of Diversity in European Higher EducationEuropean Higher EducationHistory of Diversity in History of Diversity in European Higher EducationEuropean Higher Education

National systems in Modern National systems in Modern Europe (1800-)Europe (1800-)

From a European system to From a European system to national systemsnational systems

Formalisation of diversity in Formalisation of diversity in national regulationnational regulation

History of Diversity in History of Diversity in European Higher EducationEuropean Higher EducationHistory of Diversity in History of Diversity in European Higher EducationEuropean Higher Education

Increasing but ‘hidden’ institutional Increasing but ‘hidden’ institutional diversitydiversity

Sorbonne declaration (1998): Sorbonne declaration (1998): ‘Harmonisation of the architecture of the ‘Harmonisation of the architecture of the European higher education systems’European higher education systems’

Bologna declaration (1999): Bologna declaration (1999): ‘to achieve greater compatibility and ‘to achieve greater compatibility and comparability … taking full respect of the comparability … taking full respect of the diversity of cultures, languages, national diversity of cultures, languages, national education systems and of university education systems and of university autonomy’autonomy’

The European Higher Education The European Higher Education Area (EHEA); IntentionsArea (EHEA); IntentionsThe European Higher Education The European Higher Education Area (EHEA); IntentionsArea (EHEA); Intentions

increasing implementation of increasing implementation of structural changes (two or three structural changes (two or three cycles, ECTS, Diploma Supplement)cycles, ECTS, Diploma Supplement)

different national interpretationsdifferent national interpretations

The European Higher Education The European Higher Education Area (EHEA); OutcomesArea (EHEA); OutcomesThe European Higher Education The European Higher Education Area (EHEA); OutcomesArea (EHEA); Outcomes

large variety of operationalisationslarge variety of operationalisations

Trends Reports 2003, 2005, 2007:Trends Reports 2003, 2005, 2007:

Macro-level structural convergenceMacro-level structural convergence

Large (increased?) meso- and Large (increased?) meso- and micro-level diversitymicro-level diversity

Diversity in the European Higher Diversity in the European Higher Education Area; General PictureEducation Area; General PictureDiversity in the European Higher Diversity in the European Higher Education Area; General PictureEducation Area; General Picture

recreation of a recreation of a EuropeanEuropean system system (structural convergence)(structural convergence)

still diversity between still diversity between nationalnational systemssystems

Diversity in the European Higher Diversity in the European Higher Education Area; General PictureEducation Area; General PictureDiversity in the European Higher Diversity in the European Higher Education Area; General PictureEducation Area; General Picture

large, ‘hidden’ large, ‘hidden’ institutionalinstitutional diversity remainsdiversity remains

diversity is a strengthdiversity is a strength

make diversity transparent!make diversity transparent!

Classifying European Institutions Classifying European Institutions of Higher Educationof Higher EducationClassifying European Institutions Classifying European Institutions of Higher Educationof Higher Education

Carnegie Classification (USA): 1973, Carnegie Classification (USA): 1973, 1976, 1994, 2000, 20061976, 1994, 2000, 2006

Chinese higher education Chinese higher education classification: 2007classification: 2007

Classifications are International Classifications are International PhenomenaPhenomenaClassifications are International Classifications are International PhenomenaPhenomena

tool for researchtool for research transparency instrument (various transparency instrument (various stakeholders)stakeholders)

Functions of Higher Education Functions of Higher Education Classifications Classifications Functions of Higher Education Functions of Higher Education Classifications Classifications

base for governmental policiesbase for governmental policies instrument for institutional instrument for institutional strategies (profile, mission)strategies (profile, mission)

instrument for better rankinginstrument for better ranking

transparency for studentstransparency for students transparency for business & transparency for business & industry and other organisationsindustry and other organisations

Stakeholders’ Interests Stakeholders’ Interests Stakeholders’ Interests Stakeholders’ Interests

transparency for policy makerstransparency for policy makers transparency for researcherstransparency for researchers profiling instrument for higher profiling instrument for higher education institutionseducation institutions

stakeholders approach: exploration stakeholders approach: exploration and discussionsand discussions

first phase: basic design principlesfirst phase: basic design principles

The Classification Project The Classification Project The Classification Project The Classification Project

first phase: first set of schemes and first phase: first set of schemes and indicatorsindicators

second phase: second adapted set second phase: second adapted set of schemes and indicatorsof schemes and indicators

inclusive for all European HEIsinclusive for all European HEIs

a posteriori informationa posteriori information

The Classification Project: The Classification Project: design principles design principles The Classification Project: The Classification Project: design principles design principles

multi-dimensionalmulti-dimensional

focus on ‘objective’ datafocus on ‘objective’ data

non-hierarchicalnon-hierarchical

non-prescriptivenon-prescriptive

flexibleflexible

The Classification Project: The Classification Project: design principles design principles The Classification Project: The Classification Project: design principles design principles

parsimonious regarding extra data-parsimonious regarding extra data-needsneeds

related to European Register of related to European Register of Quality Assurance AgenciesQuality Assurance Agencies

The Classification Project: The Classification Project: first set of schemesfirst set of schemesThe Classification Project: The Classification Project: first set of schemesfirst set of schemes

Education • Types of degrees offered• Range of subjects offered• Orientation of degrees• European educational profile


Research and Innovation• Research intensiveness• Innovation intensiveness• European research profile


Student and Staff Profile• International orientation• Involvement in life long learning


Institutional Characteristics• Size• Mode of delivery• Community services• Public/private character• Legal status

analysis of existing data sourcesanalysis of existing data sources

in-depth case studiesin-depth case studies

The Classification Project: The Classification Project: The second phase The second phase The Classification Project: The Classification Project: The second phase The second phase

survey; to assess relevance, survey; to assess relevance, validity, reliability and feasibilityvalidity, reliability and feasibility

The Classification Project: The Classification Project: 2nd set of schemes & indicators 2nd set of schemes & indicators The Classification Project: The Classification Project: 2nd set of schemes & indicators 2nd set of schemes & indicators

EducationEducationEducationEducation Research and Research and innovationinnovation

Research and Research and innovationinnovation

International International orientationorientation

International International orientationorientation

Co

mm

un

ity C

om

mu

nity

eng

agem

ent

eng

agem

ent

Co

mm

un

ity C

om

mu

nity

eng

agem

ent

eng

agem

ent

Size and Size and settingsetting

Size and Size and settingsetting


Highest degree offered (degree level)Highest degree offered (degree level)degrees/diplomas granted per leveldegrees/diplomas granted per level

Subject mixSubject mix

Orientation of programmesOrientation of programmesnumber of programmes offered for licensed professionsnumber of programmes offered for licensed professions

Involvement in LLLInvolvement in LLLnumber of mature (> 30 years) students as % of total number of mature (> 30 years) students as % of total enrollmentenrollment

EducationEducationEducationEducation


Research intensivenessResearch intensiveness

peer reviewed publications per academic staffpeer reviewed publications per academic staff scientometric ‘crown’ indicatorscientometric ‘crown’ indicator

Innovation intensivenessInnovation intensiveness

Financial volume privately funded research as % of total Financial volume privately funded research as % of total financial volumefinancial volume

Number of start-upsNumber of start-ups Number of filed patentsNumber of filed patents Income from licensingIncome from licensing

Research and innovationResearch and innovationResearch and innovationResearch and innovation


Teaching and staffTeaching and staff

international degree seeking students as % of total international degree seeking students as % of total number of studentsnumber of students

incoming international/European exchange students as incoming international/European exchange students as % of total number of students% of total number of students

outgoing international/European exchange students as outgoing international/European exchange students as % of total number of students% of total number of students

joint international programmes as % of total number of joint international programmes as % of total number of programmes offeredprogrammes offered

programmes offered abroadprogrammes offered abroad

fte international academic staff as % of total academic fte international academic staff as % of total academic staffstaff

International orientationInternational orientationInternational orientationInternational orientation


International orientationInternational orientationInternational orientationInternational orientation

ResearchResearch

Financial turnover in EU research programmes as % of Financial turnover in EU research programmes as % of total financial research volumetotal financial research volume


SizeSize Total number of students (per degree level)Total number of students (per degree level) Total number of fte’s academic staffTotal number of fte’s academic staff Total financial turn over per yearTotal financial turn over per year

Mode of deliveryMode of delivery distance learning programmes as % distance learning programmes as % Part-time programmes as % Part-time programmes as %

Public/private characterPublic/private character Income from government sources as % of total incomeIncome from government sources as % of total income

Legal statusLegal status

size and settings

size and settings

size and settings

size and settings


Cultural engagementCultural engagement Number of concertsNumber of concerts Number of exhibitionsNumber of exhibitions

Regional engagementRegional engagement Graduates in the regionGraduates in the region Turnover in EU structural fundsTurnover in EU structural funds Extra-curricula courses for regionExtra-curricula courses for region Importance of regional incomeImportance of regional income

Comm

unity engagement

Comm

unity engagement

Comm

unity engagement

Comm

unity engagement

work in progresswork in progress further statistical analysesfurther statistical analyses

The Classification Project: The Classification Project: Next steps Next steps The Classification Project: The Classification Project: Next steps Next steps

develop on-line tooldevelop on-line tool

reduce number of schemes reduce number of schemes (elective schemes)(elective schemes)

communication process with communication process with stakeholders and previewstakeholders and preview

institutionalisation and ownershipinstitutionalisation and ownership

Documents

Classifying European Institutions of Higher Education Phase II Frans van Vught