scholarly journals Dealing with heterogeneity: An analysis of Spanish universities

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 58-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmina Berbegal-Mirabent ◽  
Dolors Gil-Doménech ◽  
Rocío De la Torre
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks ◽  
Teaching Goals ◽  
Scientific Outputs ◽  
Spanish Universities ◽  
Spanish Higher Education

Universities are highly dependent on regulatory frameworks, the geographical setting as well as on requirements for the creation of the different outputs they pursue. As a result, universities are heterogeneous organizations. This study analyses universities’ heterogeneity in Spain. By using a dataset from the Spanish higher education system, we model the objective function of universities and investigate which factors help explain universities’ performance, in terms of the three missions that they mostly perform (teaching, research and technology transfer). Also, a cluster analysis is performed to categorise Spanish universities. The findings contribute to better understand the different behaviours shown by universities. The findings underline the heterogeneity of Spanish universities: while some universities focus more on formation (teaching) goals, other universities excel at disseminating knowledge through different scientific outputs. The study concludes with a detailed inter- and intra- group analysis.

Spain and the Lost Legal Generation: Spain's Dysfunctional University System is Also to Blame

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1209-1221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katia Fach Gómez
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education System ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Law Students ◽  
State University ◽  
University System ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Spanish Higher Education ◽  
Academic Year

For the last fifteen years I have taught final year law students at a Spanish state university on a regular basis. While it is extremely difficult to generalize about matters such as the following, I believe that the typical profile of the different groups of students I have taught over the years has been relatively homogenous in terms of quality and performance. Along with a minority of highly motivated and able students, at the beginning of every academic year the classes are mostly made up of silent students who area priorireluctant to accept individual responsibilities in the learning process. Having presented this seemingly harsh appraisal with no preamble, one of the aims of this essay is to set out a series of arguments that enable us to go beyond the glib self-righteousness of blaming the students for all their woes. In my opinion, it is the Spanish higher education system that is the mainly to blame for many of the factors currently holding law students back. The following factors contribute to this outcome.

El régimen de dotación y cobertura de plazas de profesorado universitario tras la legislatura 2011-2015

2016 ◽  
pp. 23-65
Author(s):  
Carlos-Alberto AMOEDO-SOUTO
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Human Resources ◽  
Human Resources Management ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Academic Environment ◽  
Replacement Rate ◽  
Border Line ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Spanish Universities ◽  
Spanish Higher Education

LABURPENA : 2013an, Alba Nogueira López irakaslearekin batera, lehen une haietan (2012 urtea) unibertsitateko irakasleei oinarrizko berriztapen-tasa aplikatzeak sortzen zituen arazo juridikoak gai hartuta argitaratutako lan bati jarraipena emanez, artikulu honetan, lanpostuak kudeatzeko esparru berri honetan 2012-2015 legegintzaldi osoan zehar izandako bilakaera aztertzen da. Ondorioztatu da a) unibertsitateko irakasleei dagokienez, erreforma langileen arloko gastuaren murrizketa soila baino harago joan dela, bai ordainsari-murrizketen bitartez eta bai sarrera berriko lanpostuak debekatzearen bidez, argi eta garbi barneratuz hornikuntza- edo estaldura-araubidean; b) unibertsitateko lanpostuetako gastu publikoa kontrolatzeko aparteko neurriei amaiera eman ordez, legegintzaldiak, azkenean, neurri horiek unibertsitateko araudi estrukturalean txertatu dituela. Ondorio horietatik abiatuta, zalantzan jartzen da langile arloko politika honen eta Espainiako unibertsitatea erreformatzeko helburu estrategikoen arteko koherentzia, eta hurrengo urteotan gure ekosistema akademiko partikularraren bilakaerak izango dituen gakoak identifikatzen saiatzen da. RESUMEN: Continuando un trabajo previamente publicado en 2013 con la profesora Alba Nogueira Ló pez sobre los problemas jurídicos que suscitaba en aquellos primeros momentos (año 2012), la aplicación de la tasa de reposición básica al profesorado universitario, el presente artículo analiza la evolución experimentada por este nuevo marco de gestión de plazas a lo largo de toda la legislatura 2012-2015. Se concluye así que a) en materia de profesorado universitario la reforma ha ido más allá de la simple reducción del gasto en personal, bien a través de recortes retributivos, bien a través de la prohibición de plazas de nuevo ingreso, adentrándose claramente en su régimen sustantivo de provisión o cobertura; b) lejos de constituir el punto final de las medidas extraordinarias de control del gasto público de las plazas universitarias, la legislatura ha concluído con su consagración normativa estructural. A partir de estas conclusiones, se discute la coherencia de esta política de personal con los objetivos estratégicos de reforma de la universidad española, intentando desentrañar las claves de probable evolución de nuestro particular ecosistema académico durante los próximos años. ABSTRACT : Retaking a paper previously issued in 2013 with professor Alba Nogueira López about the legal problems raised at the time (2012) by professor´s replacement rate in spanish higher education sector due to staff cuts policies, the present paper reviews the evolution of this new legal framework in the provision of new academic positions, both non tenured and tenured, in Spanish universities, during the term of X legislature (2012-2015). We conclude that a) in this subject, the reform has been gone further than a simple budget cut, crossing the border line of covering job positions; b) far from being the end point of excepcional package of budget cut measures, this legislature has concluded with its permanent setting throughout Universities Law. Drawing from this conclusions, we discuss the consistency of that human resources management with reform politics of spanish higher education, triyng to highlighting the keys of upcoming changes in our particular academic environment.

The impact of introducing foreign language requirements on the Spanish higher education system: The case of Córdoba University

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio R. Raigón Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Bologna Process ◽  
Higher Education System ◽  
Foreign Language Requirement ◽  
Language Requirement ◽  
Spanish Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe requirement that students achieve accredited foreign language proficiency at B1 level in order to graduate from university or enrol for some postgraduate courses has prompted changes in language teaching in higher education in Spain. Given the clearly ineffective tuition received at earlier stages of their education, Spanish university students are finding it difficult to meet this new requirement. Society does not see language learning as a priority, and the aforementioned lack of effective teaching places Spaniards in a weak position with regard to language learning. Motivated by the Bologna Process, which seeks to foster the acquisition of multiple skills by students, the B1 requirement comes at the end of students’ education, regardless of what they were actually taught at primary and secondary level. This article examines the perceptions of a group of students enrolled in the master’s degree in secondary teacher training and analyses data on accreditation in general in order to draw relevant conclusions. The article focuses particularly on the options chosen by students at the University of Córdoba in order to meet the new foreign language requirement, and more specifically on the role played by the university’s language centre. Data was collected through a survey based on a validated

Environmental management and sustainability in higher education

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 440-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda León-Fernández ◽  
Eugenio Domínguez-Vilches
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Environmental Management ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
University System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
International Trends ◽  
Permanent Working ◽  
Spanish Universities ◽  
Spanish Higher Education

Purpose – This paper aims to analyse trends in implementing the main initiatives in the field of environmental management and sustainability in Spanish universities, taking as a reference point the guidelines adopted by a number of universities in countries most committed to sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach – An analysis of information available on the Internet and of data collected from a questionnaire completed by a significant proportion of Spanish higher education institutions was carried out. Findings – The research found that the Spanish university system follows international trends: it possesses permanent working structures, applies a variety of environmental management and sustainability tools and carries out other activities related to the environment and sustainable development. But there still appears to be scope for improvement in some aspects, including to increase the visibility of the efforts in the environmental area, and other aspects such as the varying terminology used to refer to similar tools and processes and, conversely, of the same nomenclature to refer to distinct concepts. Originality/value – This paper provides new data and updated information on sustainability in Spanish universities and some recommendations for improvement.

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