Policy & Society Services

Besides capital and labour, knowledge has now become important. A battle for brainpower, a scramble for students and skilled migration are illustrations of this fact. Since governments realize the importance of knowledge, they pursue aspects of new public management (accountability) rules towards educational institutions. In particular students have become more active participants, consumers and customers of higher education. They realize that there is a link between education and careers and/or salary.

Since education is the engine of the knowledge economy, productivity, quality and status of education research are vital indicators. Global competition is reflected in the rising importance and significance of rankings and measurement systems. Reputation, visibility and brand depend on it.

Hazelkorn (2009) explains the changing policy context in which rankings i.e. of HEIs arise. Rankings play a role in world class status, accountability and national competiveness. However, measuring the wrong things can produce distortions. Measuring is never value-free. The recession will be long and hard. The urgent needs of society are important.

Governments and educational institutions should rethink their values. Among the values of a world class system are inclusiveness, access, effectiveness, attractiveness and age range. Important characteristics of a world class system are international reputation and competition in global employment.

Our services consist of looking with you at an alternative strategy which would be to have a diverse and coherent portfolio with the aim of horizontal differentiation. This seems a more social–democratic model with support for excellence wherever it occurs.

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