Higher Education Institutions as Viable Systems

Author(s):  
Dejana Zlatanović ◽  
Verica Babić ◽  
Jelena Nikolić

In a knowledge-based economy, higher education institutions (HEIs) are a key factor in fostering innovation and play a central role in sustainable economic growth and development. Growing complexity of HEIs and their environments requires systemic, i.e. cybernetic approach to innovation. The chapter highlights the importance of introducing a cybernetic framework for innovativeness of higher education institutions by their examination in conceptual framework of organizational cybernetics (OC). The purpose is to demonstrate how viable system model (VSM) as a key methodological tool of OC can help understanding the viability and innovativeness of HEIs. In addition, higher education institutions are investigated in a conceptual framework of VSM through the case of the public higher education institution (HEI) in Serbia. The main contribution of the chapter is related to practical implications of presented framework including the strengths and weaknesses of a VSM application.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher B. Mugimu

If Africa is to remain relevant and competitive in today’s knowledge-based economy, it has to rely on higher education institutions (HEIs) as centers of excellence for knowledge production. HEIs nurture and sustain the production of highly-skilled individuals to support Africa’s growing economies. Among all possible ways, this could be achievable through strategic curricula innovation driven by emerging mobile technologies. Consequently, Africa’s HEIs need to embrace the ‘New Normal’ by optimizing online teaching and learning in their pursuit to expand information and communications technology (ICT) literacy as a means to increase students’ opportunities in higher education (HE). However, Africa’s ability to embrace the ‘New Normal’ has been marred by inadequate ICT infrastructures, low connectivity, unreliable power supply, and national budget constraints that may undermine Africa’s HEIs’ potential to augment knowledge production and innovation.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 7-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalya Bidyuk

Abstract The article deals with the problem of globalization impact on higher education system in the United Stated of America. It has been concluded that globalization as a phenomenon has been acquiring much significance in all the spheres, especially in higher education. Different views on the essence of globalization, especially in the context of higher education, have been presented. It has been indicated that many scholars have studied the essence of globalization within higher education systems of different countries and identified that globalization encompasses important aspects of HEIs’ activities, namely, economic, social and cultural. The concept of globalization has been defined in the article. It has been pointed out that main issues within the changing landscape of higher education still remain: the increasing significance of both knowledge-based economy and society; innovations connected with the latest information and communication technologies (ICTs); the emphasized role of the market and the market economy. Therefore, it has been suggested that educators and higher education institutions should develop different approaches to fulfill all the educational needs of the growing community of students, especially international students. The activities of American organizations promoting the positive impact of globalization in higher education have been analyzed. Сore challenges for higher education institutions in the context of increasing globalization have been outlined and characterized in detail. Critical responses considered as components to the above-mentioned challenges have been clarified. Key principles needed to meet both the challenges and responses have been presented. It has been concluded that the USA has been enhancing the positive influence of globalization on the system of higher education and thus inspired other countries to follow such an example.


Author(s):  
Gergana Dimitrova ◽  

In a knowledge-based economy with high levels of competition where there is global economic competition between nations, the contribution of science and education is emerging as fundamental to their economic growth and competitiveness. This draws attention to the key factors for evaluation the competitiveness of higher education institutions (HEIs), as the article proposes a conceptual model for its evaluation, with a focus on cooperation between science, education and business, as a potential way for competitive positioning in the country. The integration processes in the sector stand out, and hence – the importance of the cluster approach to increase competitiveness and its applicability to HEIs.


Author(s):  
Ana Costa Freitas ◽  
Paulo Quaresma ◽  
Ausenda de Cáceres Balbino ◽  
Rosalina Pisco Costa ◽  
Inês Secca Ruivo ◽  
...  

In contemporary societies, higher education institutions face the impact of globalization, which is mainly demanding in imposing and shaping ethical practices. While higher education systems and dynamics cannot be understood apart from this broader context, its primary focus seems to remain as equal as ever: the creation of knowledge-based societies and economies, education and the creation of socially responsible citizens. Against this background, this chapter aims to present and critically discuss the strategies implemented in a higher education institution towards building a culture of integrity. The empirical focus is a small-scale university located in southern Europe, peripheral to prominent universities and major countries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
Eko Sakapurnama ◽  
Martani Huseini ◽  
Pantius Drahen Soeling

Today, the world has entered the industry revolution 4.0 era. It is inevitable that higher education institutions become the agents of change of civilizations that support the phenomenon. Some conceptions related to knowledge-based economy, entrepreneurial university or third-generation university, became the frame of thinking of experts who encourage university policies and strategies. This literature review is intended as an analysis on the current condition of higher education institutions in Indonesia, especially Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Gajah Mada, both of which are leading universities in Indonesia. As a state-owned university that is given an autonomy, the government restricts their subsidy, and this has put both state-owned universities (PTNBH) in a dilemma in an attempt to implement their Tri Dharma's activities, mainly because unclear policy to get the financial income from non-educational costs. This article will highlight some thoughts related to entrepreneurial universities, such as definitions, transformation models, and challenges to become entrepreneurial universities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Cueva Zavala

This research has a singular and notable importance, because if something should concern a Higher Education Institution, it is knowing what is the destiny within society of the human resource trained in its classrooms, that product that the institution delivers to the community who are its graduates and professionals. For the Institutions of Higher Education it is satisfactory on the part of employers, that the training received in the Institution of Higher Education is indicated, that the majority of graduates and professionals are incorporated into the occupational market; that is to say; some exercise their profession and others do it in occupations that do not correspond to their profession, which is justified, being aware that one of the great problems of the contemporary world is undoubtedly the lack of demand for human resources for stable work, which according to Authorized and reliable studies of every 10 people who join the economically active population, only 3 have real possibilities of fully joining the labor market, either in the private or public sector.


Author(s):  
Volodymyr Ryabchenko

There are following prerequisites outlined in this article: worldwide democratization trend; complexity of structures of social systems; growing needs in human capital development; autonomy of national higher education institutions; civilizational problem of Ukraine in national elite. Conceptual problems on a road to real democracy in higher education institutions were actualized and analyzed. Determined and characterized three models of higher education institutions activities based on the level of democratization needs of their social environment as: negative, neutral and favorable.


Author(s):  
Arti Awasthi

India has gradually evolved as knowledge based economy due to the abundance of capable, flexible and qualified human capital. With the constantly rising influence of globalization, India has immense opportunities to establish its distinctive position in the world. However, there is a need to further develop and empower the human capital to ensure the nations global competitiveness. Despite the empathetic stress laid on education and training in this country, there is still a shortage of skilled manpower to address the mounting needs and demands of the economy. Skill building can be viewed as an instrument to improve the effectiveness and contribution of labor to the overall production. It is as an important ingredient to push the production possibility frontier outward and to take growth rate of the economy to a higher trajectory. This paper focuses on skill development in Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) which contribute nearly 8 percent of the country's GDP, 45 percent of the manufacturing output and 40 percent of the exports. They provide the largest share of employment after agriculture. They are the nurseries for entrepreneurship and innovation. SMEs have been established in almost all-major sectors in the Indian industry. The main assets for any firm, especially small and medium sized enterprises are their human capital. This is even more important in the knowledge based economy, where intangible factors and services are of growing importance. The rapid obsolescence of knowledge is a key factor of the knowledge economy. However, we also know that for a small business it is very difficult to engage staff in education and training in order to update and upgrade their skills within continuous learning approach. Therefore there is a need to innovate new techniques and strategies of skill development to develop human capital in SME's.


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