1. The Challenge of Establishing World-Class Universities
Jamil Salmi
Washington DC
6 May 2009

2. Ferrari and Fiat 500

3. Ferrari and Fiat 500

6. natural lab experiment:
U. of Malaya vs. NUS
early 1960s: 2 branches of University of Malaya
today:
NUS ranked # 19
UM only # 192
1965 independence of Singapore

7. outline of the presentation
what is a world-class university?
how do you become a world-class university?

8. how do you recognize a world-class university?
everyone wants one
no one knows what it is
no one knows how to get one
Philip G. Altbach

9. defining the WCU
self-declaration

11. defining the WCU
self-declaration
reputation
rankings

14. top 50 universities

15. Alignment of Key Factors
Characteristics of a World-Class University
Alignment of Key Factors
Concentration
of Talent
Students
Teaching Staff
Researchers
Top Graduates
Leading-Edge Research
WCU
Supportive Regulatory Framework
Abundant
Public Budget Resources
Endowment Revenues
Tuition Fees
Research Grants
Favorable Governance
Resources
Autonomy
Academic Freedom
Dynamic Technology Transfer
Leadership Team
Strategic Vision
Culture of Excellence
Source: Elaborated by Jamil Salmi

16. concentration of talent
teachers and researchers
incoming students
undergraduate / graduate students balance

17. weight of graduate students

18. concentration of talent
teachers and researchers
incoming students
undergraduate / graduate students balance
international dimensions

19. international dimensions
foreign students
Harvard (19%)
Cambridge (18%)
foreign faculty
Harvard (30%)
Oxford (36%)
Cambridge (33%)

20. abundant resources government funding endowments
US spends 3.3% of GDP ($54,000 per student)
Europe (E25) only 1.3% ($13,500 per student)
endowments

21. Traveler: $4 million endowment

22. Comparison of US and UK Endowment Levels
US Institutions
Endowments
Assets
(2006 million $)
UK Institutions
Endowment
(2002 million $)
Harvard University
28,916
Cambridge
4,000
Yale University
18,031
Oxford
Stanford University
14,085
Edinburgh
3200
University of Texas
13,235
Glasgow
240
Princeton University
13,045
King’s
200

23. abundant resources
government funding
endowments
research funding

24. impact of the crisis
resources flows
government policies

25. resources flows
reduced government funding for teaching, research and student aid
reduced resources for institutions as demand falls (new domestic and foreign students, dropouts)

26. resource flows (II)
fewer resources from private sector (donations, contracts)
fall in stock market values reduces value of endowments and pension funds

27. implications for governments
increase scholarships and establish / strengthen student loan programs
include tertiary education in economic stimulus plans
R&D
entrepreneurship for innovation

30. favorable governance
freedom from civil service rules (human resources, procurement, financial management)
management autonomy
flexibility and responsiveness with power to act
selection of leadership team
independent Board with outside representation

32. U. Of Malaya vs. NUS
talent
UM: selection bias in favor of Bumiputras, less than 5% foreign students, no foreign professors
NUS: highly selective, 43% of graduates students are foreign, many foreign professors

33. U. Of Malaya vs. NUS (II) governance
finance
UM: $118 million, $4,053 per student
NUS: $750 million endowment, $205 million, $6,300 per student
governance
UM: restricted by government regulations and control, unable to hire top foreign professors
NUS: status of a private corporation, able to attract world-class foreign researchers
Including Malaysians, 11% of teaching staff and 9% of researchers. In fact 20% from North America and Europe

34. outline of the presentation
what is a world-class university?
how do you become a world-class university?

35. the path to glory upgrading existing institutions mergers
creating a new institution

36. upgrading approach less costly
challenge of creating a culture of excellence
focus on governance

37. mergers approach China, Russia, France, Denmark, Ireland
potential synergies
1+1=3
clash of cultures

38. creating a new institution
higher costs
getting the right culture from the beginning
Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Luxemburg, MMU in Malaysia, Paris School of Economics, Olin College of Engineering

39. who takes the initiative?
role of the State
favorable regulatory framework
funding
role of the institutions
leadership
strategic vision
culture of excellence
Denmark on governance
German excellence initiative
Kazakhstan
Oxford

40. Clemson University
land grant university focused on agricultural and mechanical crafts
changing region
strategic partnership with BMW to become premier automotive and sports car research U
aims to become # 20
Ranking of 75. Scanning of changing region (North Carolina): NASCAR and major car producers (BMW, Toyota)

44. the end

45. Upgrading & Fixing Universities
Upgrade your knowledge –
enhance, repair, connect, and adapt your universities!

46. a word of caution need for diversified tertiary education system
not all institutions can be “world-class”
a few select world-class research universities
Teaching: top professors teaching undergraduate students
Alignment: University of São Paulo
Time dimension: Kazakhstan, Gulf states, Saudi Arabia

47. a word of advice what kind of institution? time dimension alignment
Teaching: top professors teaching undergraduate students
Alignment: University of São Paulo
Time dimension: Kazakhstan, Gulf states, Saudi Arabia

48. money is not enough
the most expensive universities in the world are not world-class
Washington U (Washington)
Kenyon College (Ohio)
Bucknell U (Pennsylvania)
Vassar College (NY)
Sarah Lawrence College (NY)
Teaching: top professors teaching undergraduate students
Alignment: University of São Paulo
Time dimension: Kazakhstan, Gulf states, Saudi Arabia

49. Alignment of Key Factors
Characteristics of a World-Class University
Alignment of Key Factors
Autonomy
Academic Freedom
Students
Teaching Staff
Researchers
Research Output
Technology Transfer
Concentration
of Talent
Abundant
Resources
Favorable Governance
Leadership Team
Strategic Vision
Culture of Excellence
Public Budget Resources
Endowment Revenues
Tuition Fees
Research Grants
WCU
Supportive Regulatory Framework
Graduates
Source: Elaborated by Jamil Salmi

50. World Class University Recipe
Lots of Talent
Plenty of Resources
A Touch of Governance
Shake Well!