Strategic management in universities as a factor of their global competitiveness

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Parakhina ◽  
Olga Godina ◽  
Olga Boris ◽  
Lev Ushvitsky
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Radical Change ◽  
University Education ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Regional Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Competitiveness ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
Russian Universities

Purpose Modernization of Russian higher education is carried out with the purpose of its successful integration into the global educational environment. However, the contemporary management model of most Russian universities demonstrates a low efficiency level. The purpose of this paper is to identify the problems of organizing the universities’ strategic development and to seek the opportunities to achieve strategic competitiveness of Russian universities. Design/methodology/approach The basic research methods included the following: content analysis, expert evaluations, analysis of the modern concepts of universities strategic management, comparative analysis of high school practice of strategy development, and government regulations in historical perspective. Findings The major result of the study is the conclusion that the most important problem of the competitiveness of Russian universities is the lack of strategic flexibility. We can say that there is a structural nature of the management crisis affecting the whole system of university education. Over the past 25 years, there has been a radical change in the basic institutional conditions for the development of higher education institutions in Russia: the volumes and changed model of financing; the market landscape and the regional environment; the conditions and the nature of the interaction with international partners, etc. At the same time, in most cases, the platform of this system and standards of internal policy have remained unchanged. Russian education practically lost its individuality. This paper shows the experience of strategic management at leading federal and regional universities of Russia, analyzes the implementation of their development programs, and gives examples of best practices in the use of strategic planning tools. Originality/value The relevance and value of the paper is the following: for the first time, thorough attention has been paid to the accumulated potential of Russian universities, which has been formed over a long evolutionary path and now can be positioned as an important management resource in the organization of strategic management for enhancing the global competitiveness of the national system of higher education.

Backcasting as a strategic management tool for meeting VUCA challenges

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent Thorén ◽  
Martin Vendel
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Management ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Strategy Formation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Major Transitions ◽  
Strategy Process ◽  
Feasible Path ◽  
Core Idea ◽  
Interactive Workshop

Purpose Backcasting helps managers involve and align the organization throughout a strategy process. Its core idea is creating a logical path from a depicted future back to the present, to share, analyze and manage strategic challenges. Still its use in strategic management is under-researched. The purpose of this paper is to verify the relevance and validity of backcasting as a strategic management tool. It also analyzes and structures knowledge about backcasting and its practical application in strategic management. Design/methodology/approach This paper employs desktop research method to outline the benefits and limitations of backcasting for strategy formation under VUCA conditions. Findings Backcasting can help organizations overcome cognitive barriers and broaden the scope of options when analyzing future positions. The research provides insights regarding the potential and limitations of backcasting when addressing uncertainty and its drivers. For instance, it helps managers to assess and align visions; increase the understanding and clarity regarding complex dependencies; as well as improve strategic agility. Practical implications Backcasting is exceptionally useful for investigating possible futures and alternative paths to it. Backcasting is an interactive workshop-based method that challenges prevailing mindsets by assuming we are in the future, looking back towards today to find a feasible path when major transitions are necessary. With it, managers can deal with even the most uncertain decisions in a structured manner. Originality/value Backcasting for many reasons has a great potential as a tool for strategy development. It has been successfully applied in other fields but only to a limited extent in business. This paper formally examines its applicability in this context and demonstrates its relevance for dealing with VUCA challenges.

scholarly journals The Research on the Global Competitiveness of the Leading Russian Universities

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 164-167
Author(s):  
V. S. Senashenko
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education System ◽  
University Ranking ◽  
Global Competitiveness ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
Russian Higher Education ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Russian Universities

The article is a review of a monograph “The Global Competitiveness of Leading Universities: Models and Methods for Estimating and Forecasting” written by I.P. Boiko, V.G. Khalin, E.M. Anokhina. The book discusses the models and methods for university competitiveness assessment, approaches to the formation of university ranking, specific problems concerning improving of the competitiveness of Russian universities and the system of Russian higher education. The reviewed monograph will be useful to a wide range of readers who are interested in the development of the Russian higher education system.

Does university attendance impact students' political tolerance and open-mindedness: the atypical case of Israel?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zehorit Dadon-Golan ◽  
Adrian Ziderman ◽  
Iris BenDavid-Hadar
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Political Attitudes ◽  
University Education ◽  
Lecture Hall ◽  
Political Tolerance ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Study Programs ◽  
University Experience ◽  
The University

PurposeA major justification for the state subsidy of university education at public institutions (and, in some countries, of private universities too) is the economic and social benefits accruing to society as whole from a significantly university-educated workforce and citizenship. Based upon a broad range of research findings, a particular societal benefit emanating from higher education relates to good citizenship: that it leads to more open mindedness and tolerant political attitudes. We examined these issues using a representative sample of students from Israeli universities to clarify the extent to which these outcomes would be paralleled in the Israeli setting, where the university experience differs markedly from that found typically in the West.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based on a comparison of political tolerance levels between first- and final-year students enrolled in regular undergraduate study programs (of four days a week or more). However since a change in tolerance is likely to be contingent also on the amount of time that the student spends on campus during the study year, we introduce, as a control group, students enrolled in compressed study programs (of three days a week or less) and compare changes in their tolerance levels with tolerance changes of students enrolled in regular programs. Research questionnaires were distributed to undergraduate students at three universities from the three major districts in Israel–north, south and center. The achieved sample size was 329 students.FindingsUsing Difference-in-Differences techniques, we looked for any changes in students' general political tolerance, over the course of their studies. Surprisingly, we found no such effect on political tolerance attitudes. Israeli students are older and often married and though nominally full-time students, they often hold down a full-time job. Thus they come and go to attend lectures but do not otherwise spend much time on campus. Given the somewhat perfunctory nature of the university experience for most Israeli students, it does not to lead to more open-minded and tolerant political attitudes.Practical implicationsSome broader, practical applications of the research, beyond the Israeli case, are presented, particularly related to distance learning and to the impact of COVID-19. Attention is given to more recent “Cancel culture” developments on university campuses.Originality/valueThe results have wider implications, to other university setting in other countries. Changes in political attitudes may occur in university settings where campus life is well developed, with opportunities for student interaction, formally in extra-curricular events or through social mixing outside the lecture hall. Where the university experience is more minimally confined to attendance at lectures these desirable outcomes may not be forth coming. These findings are relevant to other university frameworks where campus attendance is marginal, such as in open university education and, even more explicitly, in purely internet-based higher education study.

scholarly journals Academic excellence as “competitiveness enhancement” in Russian higher education

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Tsvetkova ◽  
Sylvie Lomer
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Academic Excellence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
World University Rankings ◽  
Russian Higher Education ◽  
The Government ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Russian Universities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse critically the Russian Academic Excellence Initiative (the Project 5-100), designed to propel five leading Russian universities into world university rankings (WURs) by 2020, and research it through the lens of neoliberalism. The paper seeks to reveal recurrent discourses and dominant orders of discourse constituting the overall concept of “excellence” in Russian higher education (HE) policy. Design/methodology/approach Since the Project 5-100 has been designed in line with a neoliberal model of academic excellence initiatives, emphasising “competition as a driver of excellence” (Hazelkorn, 2009), Fairclough’s approach to critical discourse analysis (CDA) has been adopted as a qualitative research method. There is no universally accepted definition of “excellence” in HE policy; therefore, this CDA also aims at revealing the Russian government’s vision of the concept and its voice in HE policy. Findings The paper concludes that the government reinforces neoliberal discourse on the HE agenda and transforms the 5-100 Universities’ identities through emphasising the role of WURs in modernising the HE system. Consequently, within the neoliberal paradigm, the Project 5-100 can be regarded as a manifestation of the commodification of “excellence” in Russian HE policy. Originality/value This research intends to broaden knowledge of excellence initiatives in HE policy and reveal their features and neoliberal natures. It also seeks to contribute in terms of showcasing a qualitative study of the Project 5-100 for future comparative analyses of similar HE policies.

Motivation to teach

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 190-203
Author(s):  
Nancy L. Leech ◽  
Kara Mitchell Viesca ◽  
Carolyn A. Haug
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
University Education ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
Education Faculty ◽  
Higher Education Faculty ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Two Samples ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
K 12

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate higher education faculty’s motivation to teach and to validate the Factors Influencing Teaching Choice (FIT-Choice) survey with this population. Design/methodology/approach Confirmatory factor analysis and t-tests on data from 101 higher education faculty and data from K-12 teachers show that the two samples fit the model similarly. Findings Results show that the similarities between the two groups are important to note as it suggests both the value of the FIT-Choice instrument as a research tool in higher education as well as the similarities in motivating factors between higher education faculty and in-service K-12 teachers. Originality/value This is one of the first studies to use the FIT-Choice scale with university education faculty.

Earning tenure with outstanding teaching

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy L. Leech ◽  
Jessica Schnittka ◽  
Carolyn A. Haug
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
University Education ◽  
Schools Of Education ◽  
Education Faculty ◽  
Higher Education Faculty ◽  
Content Type ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Type Of Institution ◽  
Survey Research Methods ◽  
Teaching In Higher Education

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate motivation to teach for higher education faculty within schools of education. Design/methodology/approach This study utilized survey research methods to collect data from higher education faculty at nine universities identified from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of teaching website. Findings The predictor variables of gender, years of teaching in higher education, percent of overall workload devoted to teaching and two dummy variables for type of institution (i.e. doctoral granting and research II institution) when considered together did not statistically significantly predict whether or not a faculty person achieved tenure with outstanding teaching. In total, 14 of the factors influencing teaching (FIT)-choice scale components statistically significantly predicted whether or not a faculty person achieved tenure with outstanding teaching, only social dissuasion statistically significantly added to the model. Originality/value This is the first study to use the FIT-choice scale with university education faculty, and the findings suggest that higher education faculty may be motivated to produce high-quality instruction based on different factors than K-12 teachers.

Modelling student satisfaction and motivation in the integrated educational environment

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 1072-1087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yulia Stukalina
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Student Motivation ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Educational Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Procedures

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore some issues related to enhancing the quality of educational services provided by a university in the agenda of integrating quality assurance activities and strategic management procedures. Design/methodology/approach – Employing multiple regression analysis the author has examined some factors that are supposed to have an impact on student satisfaction and student motivation in the integrated educational environment. Findings – The results of the two-phase empirical research performed in two higher education institutions indicate that student satisfaction and student motivation can be modelled on a number of predictors, which are associated with several indicators related to various aspects of the integrated educational environment. Research limitations/implications – The sample in this study included two higher education institutions. Future study with a more diverse student population and the refined scale items is recommended to verify and generalize the findings. Practical implications – The research provides useful data for addressing some critical issues in the context of integrating quality assurance activities and strategic management procedures in a university. The results of the empirical study suggest that education managers might carry out regular assessment of their educational environment in the framework of performing strategic analysis, which is aimed at quality enhancement, in order to determine the most significant aspects and associated influences. This would allow them to focus their efforts, time and resources on the issues with the greatest potential for having an impact on the university’s operations, and which may be related to providing qualitative changes in the educational environment in the frame of implementing a number of competitive strategies. Originality/value – The relevant literature analysis has allowed the author to explore the research topic from a new (holistic) perspective, and to consider both student satisfaction and student motivation in the integrated educational environment, which was viewed as a complicated multi-level system. In this respect, being related to approaches, ideas and findings in the existing literature, the paper presents an attempt to develop these further in terms of adding value to previous research. The obtained information can be of interest to managers working in the area of higher education.

An intellectual capital maturity model (ICMM) to improve strategic management in European universities

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 419-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giustina Secundo ◽  
Susana Elena- Perez ◽  
Žilvinas Martinaitis ◽  
Karl-Heinz Leitner
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Step Change ◽  
Current Level ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Maturity Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
European Universities

Purpose – The public sector is one of the least addressed areas of intellectual capital (IC) research. Universities are an interesting area of investigation because they are considered critical players in the knowledge-based society. The purpose of this paper is to develop a more general, flexible and comprehensive “IC Maturity Model” for Universities (ICMM), a framework for defining and implementing IC measurement and management approaches, as part of the whole strategic management of universities. Thus, the ICMM proposes a staged framework to initiate a step-by-step change within a university based upon its current level of IC management maturity. The different steps of maturity might be an answer to cope with the huge diversity of European universities, some of which have strong managerial orientation, while others follow collegial forms of governance. Design/methodology/approach – The research approach is based on what has been called the “third stage” of IC research (Dumay and Garanina, 2013), focused on the practices of IC approaches rather than on its theoretical conceptualisation. The ICMM has been developed under the “Quality Assurance in Higher Education through Habilitation and Auditing” project framework, initiated by the Executive Agency for Higher Education and Research Funding of Romania (EUFISCDI). Three Mutual Learning Workshops (MLWs) were organised as a mean to bring together 15 international experts and practitioners to share their views and experience on IC reporting and setting up task forces. Findings – An ICMM, which is a flexible model of implementing IC approaches within public universities, is developed. The ICMM provides a theoretical continuum along which the process of maturity can be developed incrementally from one level to the next, moving from IC data collection, awareness of IC, adjustment of IC specific indicators, measurement of IC, reporting of IC, interpretation and decision making, strategy and planning. Research limitations/implications – Future research needs to conduct empirical studies in universities to generalise the effectiveness of the ICMM model and guidelines for implementation. Practical implications – The ICMM provides a staged framework to initiate a step-by-step change within a university based upon its current level of IC management maturity and its IC value creation dynamics. It allows universities to follow different paths, not necessarily a linear sequence. Originality/value – Although several methods for IC measurement and management exist, most of these cannot accommodate the trade-off between the comparability aims and the efforts to capture the institution’s uniqueness when designing an IC model.

Promoting sustainable development in higher education institutions: the use of the balanced scorecard as a strategic management system in support of green marketing

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1477-1505
Author(s):  
Paulo Fuchs ◽  
Carlos Raulino ◽  
Diogo Conceição ◽  
Samara Neiva ◽  
Wellyngton Silva de Amorim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Strategic Management ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Management System ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Marketing Strategies ◽  
Green Marketing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Balanced Scorecard

Purpose Sustainability is understood as a complex and integrating area, involving the most diverse areas and fields of knowledge. Because of the innumerable socio-environmental challenges in the current scenario, a sustainable development that finds the necessary changes and advances for communities, industry and the various stakeholders involved is required. In this process of promoting sustainable development, universities stand out for being institutions capable of taking an analytical and questioning look at the directions of the society in which they are inserted and not just helping them to pursue them, serving as a model and living laboratory for the implementation of greener practices in cities. One of the actions that contributes to the consolidation process of a more sustainable university and the development of the green campus is the use of green marketing, understood as a set of all the practices that involve conventional marketing, focused on the search to reduce the negative impact or promote positive effects on the relationship between the institution and the environment. This paper aims, based on the balanced scorecard (BSC), to propose a strategic management tool as support for green marketing strategies, thus promoting, more quickly, the promotion of sustainable development in higher education institutions (HEIs). Design/methodology/approach Four universities were chosen, from the literature, in terms of best practices for sustainable development, where the main dimensions used by green marketing were mapped. Based on them, the BSC structure was adapted to enhance its strategies. Findings To achieve the objective of this work, this paper proposed an adaptation of the original BSC for better management of green marketing strategies for universities, based on four dimensions: community members, university members, product and strategy. Originality/value The main contribution of this paper is to propose a BSC as a strategic management system focused on the green marketing of universities to accelerate the promotion of sustainable development in HEIs.

National strategy for promotion of Russian universities in the world market of education services

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-56
Author(s):  
Natalia Mushketova ◽  
Elizaveta Bydanova ◽  
Gilles Rouet
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
National Strategy ◽  
Market Place ◽  
Russian Government ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Education Services ◽  
The World ◽  
Russian Universities

Purpose The export of Russian educational services worldwide was not considered by the Russian Government as a full-fledged economic sector until recently. However, the situation has changed since the early 2000s, when in 2002, the Russian Government approved the national strategy for higher education promotion abroad and since then has been actively working on development of incentives and measures to support Russian universities to better market themselves in a global competitive market place of higher education. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the authors use a systematic approach to analyze different instruments for promoting higher education services abroad, consider the current state of this issue in Russia and look at what difficulties may arise at various levels when the state attempts to implement its strategy. Findings They are formulated as a set of marketing activities at different levels (national, regional and institutional), allowing a more advantage positioning of Russian universities in the global environment. Practical implications This paper focuses on the development of a marketing strategy for universities in a dynamic setting. The urgency of the problem is determined by the fact that today universities have to deal with a number of challenges: the reduced funding; increased competition at the regional, national and global markets; the growth of the importance of international and national rankings; and demographic and social challenges. Effective positioning in the global market place can be viewed as a source of new opportunities, as well as a challenge, not easy to master in some cases. Originality/value The paper scrutinizes strategies for the promotion of Russian universities to increase effectiveness of their positioning and create for them comfortable conditions for development in the world markets of educational services. The topic of marketing of educational services worldwide for a post-Soviet country is not an issue commonly addressed in the literature today.

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