scholarly journals The determinants of university strategic positioning: a reappraisal of the organisation

2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana Fumasoli ◽  
Giovanni Barbato ◽  
Matteo Turri

AbstractThis paper makes a contribution to the debate on university organisational actorhood by theorising the determinants of institutional strategic positioning. It argues that besides environmental forces and managerial rationality, the organisational dimension needs to be accounted for. Addressing the mixed empirical evidence in the relevant literature, we conceptualise the organisational dimension as a meso-level intervening variable mediating both external influences (outside-inside) and organisational action (inside-outside). We operationalise the organisational dimension along three components: organisational structure, identity and centrality, which are further elaborated in sub-components and indicators. A set of hypotheses to be tested in empirical research is provided. The paper offers new perspectives on the dynamics of change in higher education and on strategic agency of organisational actors.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-96
Author(s):  
TETIANA PARTYKO

The article deals with the results of empirical research on the types of personality moti-vation structure of women who are acquiring higher education in psychology. Two types have been singled out: expressive and impulsive. The expressive type comprises two com-ponents: ideal motivation aimed at life necessities, general activity and social utility, and real motivation aimed at comfort, social status and communication. In the structure of the impulsive type there are three components: real motivation aimed at life necessities, so-cial status, general activity and social utility; real motivation aimed at communication and comfort; creativity motivation aimed at self-development and creative activity. Women belonging to the expressive type of personality motivation structure have more positive self-attitude and a higher level of psychological well-being than women belonging to the impulsive type.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Tavares Gomes ◽  
Eduardo Santos ◽  
Sandra Gomes ◽  
Daniel Pansarelli ◽  
Donizete Mariano ◽  
...  

This book, consisting of nine chapters, is the result of multiple theoretical and empirical research carried out by students in the post-graduate program in education (PPGE) at Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE). The object of the research was to carry out a study on the new models of higher education, implemented in Brazil between 2005 and 2013. The studies carried out focus, above all, on institutional principles, student access policies, the internationalization process, quota policies, and mechanisms for inclusion in higher education for public school students. These were studies that used, as a theoretical basis, epistemological models of a counter-hegemonic character and, from a methodological point of view, an essentially qualitative approach. The studies showed, generically, the possibility of building other models of higher education capable of overcoming the elitism, characteristic of traditional universities. The inclusion of students from public school reveals that it is possible to make higher education a right for everyone, democratizing it, in the sense of establishing social and cognitive justice. Keywords: higher education; new models; empirical research; Brazil; social and cognitive justice.


Author(s):  
Hugh Lafollette

Valuable armchair arguments are shaped by significant reservoirs of knowledge, albeit knowledge that lies in their background, rather than the foreground. So understood armchair arguments are essential to any serious investigation of the issue of gun control. They help establish the burden of proof: they show what it is reasonable to believe if the rights-based arguments and the empirical evidence are less than compelling. They inform the arguments about the serious right to bear arms. They are essential in seeking and evaluating empirical evidence: they enable researchers to know how to structure empirical research and how to interpret their findings.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Celeste Perrucchini ◽  
Hiroshi Ito

Empirical evidence suggests an overall convergence in terms of GDP and per capita income occurring among the European Union (EU) Member States. Nevertheless, economic inequalities have been increasing at the regional level within European Union countries. Through the review of relevant literature, this study analyzes the increasing inequalities from an economical point of view, focusing on Italy and the UK as examples. First, a general overlook of the empirical evidence of the GDP and per capita income at national and sub-national levels will be presented. Second, an explanation of the possible causes of the results will be proposed through the use of economical and sociological theories. The findings of this research might uncover the relative inefficacy of EU Cohesion policies and point towards the necessity for deeper and more thoughtful measures to continue the convergence of Member States while preserving internal equilibria. This paper ends with discussions for the future directions of the EU.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003232172110072
Author(s):  
Ramon van der Does ◽  
Vincent Jacquet

Deliberative minipublics are popular tools to address the current crisis in democracy. However, it remains ambiguous to what degree these small-scale forums matter for mass democracy. In this study, we ask the question to what extent minipublics have “spillover effects” on lay citizens—that is, long-term effects on participating citizens and effects on non-participating citizens. We answer this question by means of a systematic review of the empirical research on minipublics’ spillover effects published before 2019. We identify 60 eligible studies published between 1999 and 2018 and provide a synthesis of the empirical results. We show that the evidence for most spillover effects remains tentative because the relevant body of empirical evidence is still small. Based on the review, we discuss the implications for democratic theory and outline several trajectories for future research.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Addison ◽  
Victoria ◽  
G. Mountford

In this article we raise questions about fitting in pertaining to various classed identities within two UK Higher Education Institutions (HEI). We discuss the pains and privileges attached to accent and ways of speaking worth: Who is able to mobilize and capitalize on inscribed values, as they come to be attached to ways of talking? Accents and ways of talking are part of embodied class identities and whilst some carry connotations of intelligence, other ways of talking are positioned as lacking value, as well as other cultural meanings ( Sayer 2002 ; Spencer, Clegg and Stackhouse 2013 ; Lawler 1999 ; Skeggs 1997 ; Southerton 2002 ; Taylor 2007 ; Macfarlane and Stuart-Smith 2012 ). In this article we discuss our empirical research carried out in two separate qualitative ESRC-funded research projects in the north of England with undergraduate students (Victoria Mountford) and university staff (Michelle Addison). Focusing primarily on white British ways of talking, we examine how embodying particular accents or ways of talking affect classed notions of ‘fitting in’ or ‘standing out’ (Reay et al 2009: 1; Abraham and Ingram 2013 ) in HE. In a climate of uncertainty in Higher Education we are concerned that the importance of demonstrating one's impact, value and worth comes down to more than just productivity, it is becoming demonstrably about being able to ‘talk the talk’. Here we trouble the practices of speaking ‘what you are worth’.


2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel C. Hickman ◽  
Andrew G. Meyer

Abstract: Eco-labeling of services has become increasingly common, yet little empirical evidence exists concerning its effectiveness. We address this gap in the literature by analyzing a highly visible eco-label, the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), in the sector of higher education. We match information about the ACUPCC to the US Department of Education IPEDS database to examine the impact of signing on student applications, admissions, and enrollment. We mainly utilize a difference-in-difference approach to identify the effects of interest but confirm results with an interrupted time series model. We find that signing the ACUPCC increases applications and admitted students by 2.5–3.5 %. However, the evidence regarding enrollment is weaker with only some specifications finding increases of around 1–2 %. Overall, there is considerable heterogeneity across sectors and selectivity of the institutions. These results show that, at the minimum, voluntary and information-based approaches (VIBAs) for services can be effective in generating visibility and influencing less-costly consumer behavior.


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