Excellence Initiatives to Create World-Class Universities: Do They Work?

10.6197/HEED.2016.1001.01

Jamil Salmi

Excellence Initiatives ； World-Class Universities ； Elite Universities ； Global Rankings

Higher Education Evaluation and Development

10卷1期（2016 / 06 / 01）

1 - 29

英文

Within the tertiary education system, research universities play a critical role in training the professionals, high-level specialists, scientists, and researchers needed by the economy and in generating new knowledge in support of the national innovation system. In this context, governments want to make sure that their top universities are actually operating at the cutting edge of intellectual and scientific development. A major concern has therefore been to identify the most effective method for inducing substantial and rapid progress in a country's top universities. In order to accelerate the process of improving their top universities, several governments have launched so-called ＂excellence initiatives,＂ consisting of large injections of additional funding to boost their university sector. The purpose of this article is to assess the impact of these initiatives on the universities involved and on the rest of the tertiary education system. While the first section of the chapter analyzes the main features of excellence initiatives, the second part examines their results as well as their limitations.

1. Qureshi, Y. (2007). 400 university jobs could go. Manchester Evening News, Retrieved May 20, 2007, from http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/education/s/1001/1001469_400_university_jobs_could_go.html
2. Li, J. (2015). Communist Party orders a course of Marxism for China's universities. South China Morning Post, Retrieved July 13, 2015, from http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1682774/communist-party-orderscourse-marxism-chinas-universities
3. Tarrach, R., Egron-Polack, E., de Maret, P., Rapp, J.-M., & Salmi, J. (2011). Daring to reach high: Strong universities for tomorrow's Spain. Madrid, Spain: The Committee of International Experts EU2015.
4. Schmidt, B. (2012). Don't just throw more money at education to boost productivity. The Australian, Retrieved July 13, 2015, from http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/dont-just-throw-more-money-ateducation-to-boost-productivity/story-e6frgd0x-1226476068197
5. Hu, Q. (2014). Unis get more autonomy. Global Times, Retrieved July 13, 2015, from http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/885482.shtml
6. Altbach, P. G.,Salmi, J.(2011).The road to academic excellence: The making of world-class research universities.Washington, DC:The World Bank.
7. Bhattacharjee, Y.(2011).Saudi universities offer cash in exchange for academic prestige.Science,334(6061),1344-1345.
8. Gladwell, M.(2011).The order of things: What college rankings really tell us.The New Yorker,FEBRUARY 14 & 21
9. Harman, G.,Harman, K.(2008).Strategic mergers of strong institutions to enhance competitive advantage.Higher Education Policy,21(1),99-121.
10. Holdsworth, N.(2008).Russia: Super league of "federal" universities.University World News,50
11. Hou, A. Y.-C.,Ince, M.,Chiang, C.-L.(2012).A reassessment of Asian Pacific excellence programs in higher education: The Taiwan experience.Scientometrics,92(1),23-42.
12. Kakuchi, S.(2014).Not just international but "Super Global Universities".University World News,344
13. Kakuchi, S.(2015).Restrictions on collaboration are "hindering" international research.University World News,349
14. Kehm, B.(2006).The German "initiative for excellence" and the issue of ranking.International Higher Education,44,20-22.
15. MacGregor, K.(2013).Concerns growing over "gaming" in university rankings.University World News,277
16. OECD(2014).Promoting research excellence: New approaches to funding.Paris, France:OECD.
17. O'Malley, B.(2015).Minister blasts patchy quality of university teaching.University World News,381
18. Salmi, J.(2012).The vintage handicap: Can a young university achieve worldclass status?.International Higher Education,70,2-3.
19. Salmi, J.(2014).,未出版
20. Salmi, J.(2009).The challenge of establishing world-class universities.Washington, DC:The World Bank.
21. Shin, J. C.,Kehm, B. M.(2013).Institutionalization of world-class university in global competition.Dordrecht, The Netherlands:Springer.
22. Vorotnikov, E.(2015).Government plans to cut 10% off university funding.University World News,355
23. World Bank(1999).World development report: Knowledge for development.New York:Author.
24. World Bank(2002).Constructing knowledge societies: New challenges for tertiary education.Washington, DC:Author.
25. Yeung, L.(2015).Fear of erosion of academic freedom.University World News,357