Jonathan M. File

Structural Reform in European Higher Education: An Introduction

This chapter starts with a reflection on what we know about structural reforms in higher education. Subsequently, the nature and types of the structural reforms analysed in this volume is explained. The cases are all European reforms in which governmental agencies played a leading role. The reforms aimed either at horizontal differentiation (e.g. introducing a new sector in higher education), vertical differentiation (e.g. developing initiatives for ‘world-class’ universities) or interrelationships (cooperation between different types of higher education institutions, including mergers). Short summaries of the case studies are presented, followed by an introduction of the conceptual framework, used to analyse the case studies.

Structural Reforms in European Higher Education: Concluding Reflections

In this chapter, we will first provide a cross-case analysis, followed by the identification of critical elements of higher education reform, presented by policy stage. In doing so, we highlight the importance of the context in which these reforms unfold. We will conclude the chapter by offering a more general reflection on important aspects of (higher education) policy analysis.

Structural higher education reform: design and evaluation: Synthesis report

This study analyses how different types of system-level (or ‘landscape’) structural reforms in higher education have been designed and implemented in selected higher education systems. In the 12 case studies that form the core of the project, the researchers examine reforms aimed at: - Increasing horizontal differentiation between different types of higher education institutions (for example reforms to introduce or modify the role of universities of applied science); - Increasing vertical differentiation through increasing or decreasing positional or status differences between higher education institutions (for example, reforms aimed at concentrating research in a limited number of universities) and; - Changing institutional interrelationships between higher education institutions (for example, through mergers, the formation of associations of institutions). In each case, the researchers set out to understand the origins and objectives of the reforms examined, the why they were designed and implemented, the extent to which they achieved their objectives and the factors affecting success or failure. The overall objective is to provide policy makers at the European, national and institutional levels with policy relevant conclusions concerning the design, implementation and evaluation of structural reforms