Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision
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EUROPE Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision Cecile Hoareau McGrath, Joanna Hofman, Lubica Bajziková, Emma Harte, Anna Lasakova, Paulina Pankowska, S. Sasso, Julie Belanger, S. Florea, J. Krivogra Prepared for The European Commission Project number 539628-LLP-1-2013-NL-ERASMUS-EIGF Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision (GAIHE) Project information Project acronym: GAIHE Project title: Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision Project number: 539628-LLP-1-2013-NL-ERASMUS-EIGF Sub-programme or KA: Lifelong Learning Programme Project website: http://www.he-governance-of- innovation.esen.education.fr/ Reporting period: From 01/10/2013 To 31/06/2016 Report version: 1 Date of preparation: 2015–2016 Beneficiary organisation: Maastricht University, School of Governance École Normale Supérieure de Lyon Dublin Institute of Technology University of Latvia Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu Comenius University in Bratislava University of Ss. Cyrill and Methodius, Trnava University of Maribor University of Salamanca, ECYT Institute University of Alicante 539628-LLP-1-2013-NL-ERASMUS-EIGF 2 / 217 Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision (GAIHE) University of Strasbourg RAND Europe Project coordinators: Dr Cecile McGrath & Joanna Hofman Project coordinator organisation: RAND Europe Project coordinator telephone number: + 44 1223 273 850 Project coordinator email address: [email protected] [email protected] 539628-LLP-1-2013-NL-ERASMUS-EIGF 3 / 217 Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision (GAIHE) This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. © 2016 Copyright Education, Audio-visual & Culture Executive Agency. The document may be freely copied and distributed provided that no modifications are made, that the source is acknowledged and that this copyright notice is included. 539628-LLP-1-2013-NL-ERASMUS-EIGF 4 / 217 Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision (GAIHE) 1. Executive Summary This project examines innovative modes of higher education provision, as well as ways in which the management and governance of higher education are changing in support of innovations in higher education provision. At a time when more students than ever are attending higher education, its provision is becoming more fluid, global and competitive. For example, developments in new technologies mean that higher education institutions (HEIs) can make their courses available all over the world. These developments bring into question the traditional delivery model of higher education institutions, which tends to be confined to physical – and hence geographically defined – course offerings. The project, which started in October 2013 and was completed by the end of June 2016, was funded by the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commission. Partnership. Our Europe-wide consortium consists of 12 partner institutions (universities, higher education institutions and research institutes) across 9 European countries. Methodology. The methodological approach followed by the project consisted of desk research, the development and implementation of an online survey to gather the perceptions of higher education leaders on innovation, and the production of institutional case studies to determine best practices. The survey was disseminated across representatives of higher education institution leaders in 47 institutions in 9 countries (Austria, France, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain). Target audience. The project has two target audiences. The first target audience is administrators and professionals in higher education institutions who are involved in innovation. The project aims to facilitate the exchange of best practices regarding the structures which help to promote innovation in higher education, and to gain a better understanding of how these structures are evolving over time. The second target audience is professionals in national governments and other organisations which also have an interest in higher education management. Outcomes. The project has led to the production of various reports to inform audiences of the results. These reports include a literature review, survey and case study reports, and a research report which summarises the findings of the study. The project also produced a list of recommendations, and a self-assessment tool to support higher education practitioners in identifying what is needed to support innovation in their institutions. In addition, the project undertook various activities to exchange practices, several workshops to exchange experience, the design of a 539628-LLP-1-2013-NL-ERASMUS-EIGF 5 / 217 Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision (GAIHE) training course for HEI managers and teachers, institutional visits, various publications, and presentations at conferences. A project website was created, and it has been continually updated to include all relevant project information, as well as a platform for partners to exchange information. It is available at www.he-governance-of-innovation.esen.education.fr. Results. The results of our research are the following: First, innovations include various aspects of education provision, including but not limited to digital innovations. These innovations include changes in teaching methods, curricula and programmes that allow for reaching a different student demographic – for example, through partnerships outside of the university. Our participating institutions have highlighted several examples of promising practices in education provision and governance and management. These promising practices cover examples which add value to the institution and have the proven or expected potential to be transferrable and sustainable. University governance and management structures and approaches can support innovation in a number of ways. These approaches include expressing a high- level institutional commitment and establishing an institution-wide strategy to support innovation; providing institutional, organisational and financial support to innovation; and conducting regular evaluations of the initiatives. Given that most HEIs are public in the European Union, supporting innovation also relies on an appropriate regulatory environment set by national governments and a stable and wide funding base. Recommendations. Based on these findings, our consortium wishes to issue the following recommendations: Innovation relies first and foremost on an institution-wide leadership and strategy which bind the institution around a sense of purpose, the implementation of which needs to be regularly evaluated. Leaders include senior representatives supporting innovation. But staff and students also have a role to play in generating ideas. As Burton Clark (1998) has argued, university autonomy and financial resources are not sufficient conditions for innovation if the leadership of the institution chooses to concentrate on the past rather than look to the future. We therefore recommend that each HEI include innovation objectives, defined in measurable performance targets, in its strategy. In addition, HEIs need to provide the right institutional support; organisational flexibility; financial incentive; and evaluation, impact and quality assurance framework to support innovation. We therefore recommend that each HEI consider how the types of institutional support, organisational layout, financial 539628-LLP-1-2013-NL-ERASMUS-EIGF 6 / 217 Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision (GAIHE) incentives and evaluation procedures enhance the institution’s innovation potential. Innovation needs to be understood broadly. It does not only include new technologies (although digital innovation was understandably popular). Our case study and survey material suggest that competency-based methods of teaching, for example, relying on student’s problem-solving skills rather than the lecturer’s narrative, are also gaining ground in Europe. In addition, new technologies are not an end product; they need to be included in a coherent pedagogical approach. We recommend that HEIs consider not just investing in technology, but also prioritising training staff and developing support structures to facilitate the inclusion of innovation in a coherent teaching and learning approach. We welcome and encourage the further exchange of practices across institutions of higher education in Europe as well as other stakeholders, in order to facilitate the transmission of ideas. This further exchange could be articulated around the dimensions to support innovation, using relevant tools, such as the self-assessment tool used in this project. This final report concentrates on the main findings of the study. The project website includes additional documents and publications released as part of this project. These documents are available at: www.he-governance-of- innovation.esen.education.fr 539628-LLP-1-2013-NL-ERASMUS-EIGF 7 / 217 Governance and Adaptation to Innovative Modes of Higher Education Provision (GAIHE) Table of Contents 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................... 5 2.