Learning to Compete in European Universities: From Social Institution to Knowledge Business

Stockholm 12 of June

Enrico Deiaco & Maureen McKelvey

Under threat of change

The AutoUni

Building on SMITH (1776)The division of labour is limited by the extent of marketWhen the size of the market increases, division of labour becomes more convenient and with division of labour come specialisation, increasing returns and differentation from othersThis is totally new for many national systems. Many government (and universities are unprepared to manage this change)

From Social Institutions to Knowledge Business

1. More like firmsEuropean universities will be pushed to behave more like firms

2. Flexibility => better outcomes

The universities and HEIs which are able to act more flexibly to the changing national institutional contexts as well as international movement in people and resources will do better in the current period.

3. Large resource base wins

The universities that can create a sufficient resource base which they over time recombine to reach and leverage new research and educational opportunities will become the future winners.

4. Dynamics of sector Entry / exit / alliances

The university sector as a whole will become more dynamic.

5. Diverse and specialized The university structure in Europe will remain and possibly intensify a diverse institutional context, with diverse populations of universities, colleges and HEIs.

6. National Protection

National contexts may mitigate the severity of these outcomes, even if pan-European trends push towards broader rules of the game and level playing fields for all organizations.

What does the research tell us?Andrea Bonaccorsi, professor, University of PisaDivision of academic labour is limited by the size of the market

Luke Georghiou, professor, University of ManchesterStrategy to Join the Elite: Merger and the 2015 Agenda

Francesco Lissoni, assoc. prof, University of Brescia and CESPRI, Bocconi UniversityAcademic Patenting in Europe: Evidence on France, Italy from the KEINS database

Debate forumPanel 1: Insights from the university perspectiveStrategy? Failure? What change internally? 5-10 years in future?Panel 2: Insights from public policy & institutionsIntegration & trade-offs? Reforms? Unintended consequences? Global liberalisation of education market?