Towards a Multi-dimensional Ranking: Transparency in Missions and Performances of Higher Education Institutions The EU context Sophia Eriksson Waterschoot Head of Sector Higher Education Policy DG Education and Culture, European Commission UNICA Rectors‘ Seminar, Dubrovnik, 3 July 2009

Outline A. EU Context: the Modernisation Agenda for Universities B. Overview of EU-supported transparency initiatives C. Towards a Multi-dimensional Global Ranking D. Results of recent Eurobarometer survey

Modernisation agenda, Lisbon strategy and the Bologna process: Modernisation agenda an integral part of the Lisbon strategy Co-operation in Education and Training under Lisbon strategy: Updated Strategic Framework (Dec. 2008), Council conclusions (May 2009) Bologna process substantially contributes to the modernisation agenda and vice versa Around 4 million universities in Europe and 19 million HE students. Still not enough people complete higher education when they leave school. Need to drive levels up if we are going to maximise the benefits of a knowledge society. Many curricula are outdated and not adequately attuned to the needs of the labour market. Higher education institutions need more freedom and more money to be able to achieve the aspirations that we as a society have set for them. They shouldn’t be constrained by over-regulation. Many universities are not responsive to the needs of adult learners – designed for a school leaver following a full-time course? Need to be more flexible to ensure that mature students are able to access and complete HE – or to dip in and out according to their needs.

The Updated Strategic Framework for co-operation in Education and Training: For the next 10 years Close synergy with the Bologna process, in particular with regard to quality assurance, recognition, mobility and transparency instruments Open Method of Cooperation - national competence, but the Commission facilitates and supports peer learning, benchmarking and co-operation Around 4 million universities in Europe and 19 million HE students. Still not enough people complete higher education when they leave school. Need to drive levels up if we are going to maximise the benefits of a knowledge society. Many curricula are outdated and not adequately attuned to the needs of the labour market. Higher education institutions need more freedom and more money to be able to achieve the aspirations that we as a society have set for them. They shouldn’t be constrained by over-regulation. Many universities are not responsive to the needs of adult learners – designed for a school leaver following a full-time course? Need to be more flexible to ensure that mature students are able to access and complete HE – or to dip in and out according to their needs.

Making lifelong learning and learner mobility a reality The 2020 priorities of the Updated Strategic Framework for co-operation in Education and Training 4 strategic objectives: Making lifelong learning and learner mobility a reality Improving quality and efficiency of education and training Promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship Enhancing creativity and innovation, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training Around 4 million universities in Europe and 19 million HE students. Still not enough people complete higher education when they leave school. Need to drive levels up if we are going to maximise the benefits of a knowledge society. Many curricula are outdated and not adequately attuned to the needs of the labour market. Higher education institutions need more freedom and more money to be able to achieve the aspirations that we as a society have set for them. They shouldn’t be constrained by over-regulation. Many universities are not responsive to the needs of adult learners – designed for a school leaver following a full-time course? Need to be more flexible to ensure that mature students are able to access and complete HE – or to dip in and out according to their needs.

EU Modernisation agenda Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament (2006) Council Resolution on modernising universities for Europe’s competitiveness (2007) Report from the Commission to the Council (2008) Commission Communication on the modernisation agenda planned for 2011 (5 years after previous Communication)

Challenges EU Modernisation agenda European higher education is underperforming (compared to US) Not enough people participate and graduate Not enough lifelong learning Higher education is too fragmented, overregulated and underfunded Curricula not adapted to needs of labour market

Curricular Reforms Need to make curricula more flexible and better adapted to the needs of the labour market Bologna reforms (introduction 3- cycles system, development trustworthy QA) important contribution to make curricula more transparent and comparable and to stimulate mobility of students and researchers Mobility also stimulated by Erasmus and Erasmus Mundus Common language via EQF: learning outcomes Optimize regulatory framework for university-enterprise cooperation 8

Governance Reform Institutional autonomy and full accountability Strategic priorities to be set by the institutions Involvement of stakeholders (employers, business) Building and rewarding good management and leadership 9

Funding Reform Need for more (diversified) funding in higher education even more important in this time of financial crisis Updated strategic framework E&T: new benchmark public – private investment at least 2% of GDP Broaden the funding base Critically examine current mix of funding 10

Main messages of the Modernisation agenda - transparency: (1) Modern universities should dare to diversify on the basis of their strenghts. Not all institutions need the same mix between education and research. The diverse missions and performances of our universities should be made transparent to all stakeholders. Around 4 million universities in Europe and 19 million HE students. Still not enough people complete higher education when they leave school. Need to drive levels up if we are going to maximise the benefits of a knowledge society. Many curricula are outdated and not adequately attuned to the needs of the labour market. Higher education institutions need more freedom and more money to be able to achieve the aspirations that we as a society have set for them. They shouldn’t be constrained by over-regulation. Many universities are not responsive to the needs of adult learners – designed for a school leaver following a full-time course? Need to be more flexible to ensure that mature students are able to access and complete HE – or to dip in and out according to their needs.

Main messages of the Modernisation agenda - transparency: (2) More transparency will make it easier for students, teachers and researchers to make an informed choice where and what to study and where to work. More transparency would also serve university management to better position themselves and improve their development strategies, quality and performances. Around 4 million universities in Europe and 19 million HE students. Still not enough people complete higher education when they leave school. Need to drive levels up if we are going to maximise the benefits of a knowledge society. Many curricula are outdated and not adequately attuned to the needs of the labour market. Higher education institutions need more freedom and more money to be able to achieve the aspirations that we as a society have set for them. They shouldn’t be constrained by over-regulation. Many universities are not responsive to the needs of adult learners – designed for a school leaver following a full-time course? Need to be more flexible to ensure that mature students are able to access and complete HE – or to dip in and out according to their needs. 12 12

EU supported transparency initiatives in higher education European Data Collection project CHEPS study « Mapping diversity of university profiles » Expert group on Asessment of University based Research Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) Pilot project on design and testing of a multi-dimensional global ranking 13 13

Towards a Multi-dimensional Global University Ranking Various rankings have their own purpose and target groups (Berlin principles) Shortcomings existing rankings: - tendency to focus on research in hard sciences and ignore performances of universities in other areas like humanities, social sciences, teaching quality, innovation, internationalisation and community outreach. - focus on entire institutions, not on programmes/disciplines Therefore desirable that, based on existing initiatives, instruments will be developed which enable a multi-dimensional ranking. 14 14

Chracteristics of multi-dimensional ranking to be developed and tested Multi-dimensional and user-driven (different users and target groups can choose an own « smart ranking ») Independent (not run by governments or universities) Global (covering institutions in Europe and other continents) 15 15

Planning of the project End of May 2009: Start of project End of December 2009: Final Report design phase January 2010: Start testing phase End of May 2011: Final Report testing phase 16 16

Eurobarometer survey 2009 15,000 students surveyed, in 30 European countries 83% think that independent rankings on quality of universities and programmes would help them decide where to study Some differences between countries: high rates in UK, PT, PL, SI, IE, SK, RO, NO, LT (above 87%); lower rates in BE, TR, HR, DK (less than 72%) Particular strong views of part-time students at Masters level and in terms of field of study for medical students 17 17

Eurobarometer survey 2009 74% state that factors such as location, friends and costs were also considered when to choose where to study 36% feel available information is not sufficient for choosing HEI 81% think that students should be involved in quality reports and rankings of HEIs High variation between countries: highest in SI, SK, RO, No UK, PL (above 89%); lowest in FI (46%) and BE (64%) 18 18

Thank you! http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/index_en.htm Website of the Directorate General for Education and Culture within the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/index_en.htm 19 19