Prague, November 28, 2008 Research in the Czech non-university sector: required but not supported Petr Pabian Centre for Higher Education Studies, Prague

Prague, November 28, 2008 International project Research in the non-university higher education sector (UAS) in Europe Participating countries: Belgium, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland

Prague, November 28, 2008 International comparison 1)Research most developed: Finland, Norway, Switzerland 2)Research at the middle: Ireland, Germany 3)Research underdeveloped: Belgium, Czechia, Netherlands

International comparison Non-university research: % of public R&D expenditures Norway8.0 % Finland6.5 % Switzerland5.7 % Ireland4.8 % Germany4.1 % Belgium2.3 % Netherlands2.3 % Czechia0.1 %

Prague, November 28, 2008 Why is Czechia so underdeveloped?

Tertiary education in Czechia ProfessionalHigher education ISCED 5BISCED 5A PhD. M.A. DiS. B.A. Professional collegesNon-university HEIsUniversities Non-university sector

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university sector in Czechia 1)Vyšší odborné školy = Professional education colleges 177 institutions, students 1)Neuniverzitní vysoké školy = Non-university higher education institutions 46 institutions, students

Prague, November 28, 2008 Professional education colleges National research policy: blind spot Not expected to carry out research: absent from national research policy Excluded from public research funding Teaching not expected to be research-based Not expected to incite interest in research Career development without research

Prague, November 28, 2008 Professional education colleges Institutional strategies Claim no research mission / involvement Activities beyond teaching: professional expertise, community service, structural funds – not considered research

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university HEIs National research policy No role for non-university institutions Focus on public universities only Higher education policy Teaching must be research-based Accreditation: research credentials & output required

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university HEIs Public research funding No special funding mechanisms Eligible for all forms of funding Core funding: same criteria as universities Project funding: competition with universities, public research institutions and others

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university HEIs Public research funding in practice Core funding (2008): 1 non-uni HEI (3900 €) Project funding ( ): 20 institutions, 39.projects Total public funding ( ) Public universities: above 20 billion CZK Non-university: 16.8 million CZK (650,000 €)

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university HEIs Policy framework: summary Research policy: not expected to do research Public funding: not supported to do research Accreditation: required to do research

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university HEIs Institutional strategies All institutions claim research involvement Primary focus: teaching =>dominant position: research in the service of teaching

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university HEIs Institutional strategies: staff development Requirement: research qualifications Limitation: only universities confer those qualifications Solution: attracting highly qualified academic staff from public universities

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university HEIs Institutional strategies: staff development Situation: competition with universities Universities offer lower teaching loads, research funding, academic career prospects Habilitation ( ): 3 out of 2478 new docents affiliated with non-university HEI

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university HEIs Institutional strategies: staff development Solution: dual (or multiple) affiliation (ironically criticised by Academic Commission) Problem: affiliation of these academics’ research outcomes

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university HEIs Institutional strategies: re-definition Re-defining institutional boundaries: including research carried by academics at other institutions Re-defining research: including activities not recognised by other actors as research

Prague, November 28, 2008 Non-university HEIs Institutional strategies: redefining research Activities: developing degree programmes & teaching materials, training courses, consultancy, community service Funding: EU structural funds & education programmes, regional & municipal authorities

Prague, November 28, 2008 Problems and challenges Non-university HEIs: precarious position Contradictory policy messages: required to carry out research but not supported to do so Funding: building capacities without core funding & in competition with universities Staffing: dependent on universities for career development of their academic staff

Prague, November 28, 2008 Problems and challenges Cause: dominant position of public universities Research policy, funding & evaluation: designed with only universities in mind Staffing: university career structure imposed on non-uni HEIs but controlled by universities Accreditation: academic criteria imposed on professional bachelor education

Prague, November 28, 2008 Problems and challenges Solutions: diversification Diversifying policy: objectives for research in non-university sector – improvement of teaching and/or regional economy Diversifying funding: special mechanisms Diversifying career structures: abolishing uniform accreditation requirements

Prague, November 28, 2008 Problems and challenges Solutions: diversification Diversifying scholarship: recognizing and rewarding scholarship of teaching & learning community service & knowledge transfer beyond economic growth: quality of life agenda

Prague, November 28, 2008 Thanks for your attention.