Introduction to the Book and the Comparative Study

Chapter 1 of Re-Becoming Universities contextualizes and describes the contents of the book based on the study: Change in Networks, Higher Education and Knowledge Societies (CINHEKS). The CINHEKS study was a six country international comparative study focused on the way in which contemporary higher education institutions and networked within and between networked knowledge societies. The countries in focus are Finland, Germany, Portugal, The Russian Federation, The United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Diversity of Higher Education Institutions in Networked Knowledge Societies: A Comparative Examination

Within and across many expanded and diversified higher education systems, the recognition and understanding of differences between institutions becomes especially challenging. Forms of both ‘vertical’ and ‘horizontal’ differentiation frequently exist alongside each other, though with increasing attention given to the former. Institutional boundaries become more porous within intra-sector and cross-sector collaborations, as networks become increasingly important in both. Do the ways in which different kinds of higher education institutions interact within networks, as well as the nature of those networks, differ? To what extent do network configurations become platforms for distinct knowledg…

The Bologna Process in Finland

The aim of this chapter is to analyse how the Bologna Process influences Finnish higher education by examining what changes are related to or caused by it. The study focuses first on the social field of national higher education policy-making, and second on the study of higher education institutions examined from the perspective of academic basic units. The study is based on critical analysis of national policy documents and on a qualitative case study conducted at the University of Jyvaskyla in the spring term of 2004. The qualitative case study was based on thematic focus group interviews. The themes of the interview can be found in the Appendix 1. In order to reach a more comprehensive u…

‘World Class Local Heroes’: Emerging Competitive Horizons and Transnational Academic Capitalism in Finnish Higher Education – 2010–2012

This chapter introduces an analysis based on institutional profiles of higher education institutions and the two institutional case studies that were carried out in Finland as part of the CINHEKS study. The purposeful selection of the profiles and case studies was based on historical contextualization, the spectrum of higher education institutions in Finland, as well as the twin effects of a major legislative reform, carried out as the global economic crisis of 2008/09 unfolded. In terms of theory of the middle range, empirical focus was achieved via a purposeful selection based on mission emphasis, disciplinary cultures, career stage and competitive horizons. This analysis spotlights three…

The Best Science, The Best Science in Finnish – and English – or The Best Finnish Scientists?

Cet article traite d’une « vérité inconfortable » (un mythe), à propos de la mise en place d’une politique ainsi que des pratiques équitables en matière de gestion du personnel, dans le système éducatif supérieur d’un pays admiré pour l’égalité sociale qui le caractérise. L’étude présente une enquête participative des auteurs, qui se fonde sur leurs expériences collectives et leurs perceptions de l’intérieur d’un système qui est en train de changer rapidement. Les auteurs révèlent un certain nombre d’affirmations et de mécanismes qui ont mené à un abandon du débat sur l’égalité dans les discussions portant sur politiques éducatives. L’ironie de cette situation est que le « miracle finlandai…

Higher Education in Networked Knowledge Societies

This conceptual chapter articulates an analytical synthesis: Networked Knowledge Society. This synthesis incorporates the role of knowledge, information and communication technology (ICT) and networks in order to better understand the dynamic nature of contemporary societies. It also conceptualises the relationships between contemporary societies and higher education. A traditional approach to examining the relationships between higher education and society is to consider this from the societal point of departure to interpret or explain change in higher education. Our approach, by contrast, is relational with respect to the dynamic role of higher education in societies and the ways in which…

Changing Academic Mobility Patterns and International Migration

Several scholars have underlined connections between academic mobility and international migration. This qualitative study explores a spectrum of academic mobility articulated by Teichler that empirically contributes to consideration of these connections. This analysis of e-mail excerpts from 20 migrant academics, living in seven countries, illuminates six distinct patterns of academic mobility and highlights key differences between regions of the world. Narrowly conceiving academic mobility in terms of traditional short-term internationalization finds many universities focused on and staffed for academic mobility between countries. Other regions have long been focused on academic mobility …

The Bologna Process in Academic Basic Units: Finnish Universities and Competitive Horizons

The International SoleTM of Finnish Higher Eduction: A Virtual Vanishing Act

This participative inquiry critiques recent management trends in the Finnish higher education system. The six authors, presently working in three Finnish universities, focus on strategic internationalization policy to highlight the argument. Global trends in internationalization are introduced, followed by an experienced-based meta-analysis, drawing on several recent studies by the authors. This analysis points to significant challenges and blind spots that exist- well hidden- alongside the Finnish higher education system’s best features. The increasing use of ICT-based management routines are called into question with respect to higher education practices, capacity and linked societal chal…

The career potential of migrant scholars in Finnish higher education : emerging perspectives and dynamics

David Hoffman tutki väitöstyössään suomalaisessa korkeakoulujärjestelmässä työskentelevien akateemisten siirtolaisten näkökulmia ja kokemuksia. Tutkimus toi esiin tärkeitä haasteita liittyen suomalaisen väestön nopeaan ikääntymiseen ja kansainväliseen muuttoliikkeeseen. Hoffmanin analyysi tunnisti tieteenaloja, joilla akateeminen liikkuvuus on vahvaa sekä aloja, joilla se on lähes olematonta. Lisäksi tutkimus osoittaa, että akateeminen liikkuvuus toimii hyvin joidenkin siirtolaisryhmien kohdalla, kun taas toisia siirtolaisryhmiä ei juuri löydy henkilöstölistoilta. Viime aikoina on keskusteltu paljon siitä, että Suomen houkuttelevuutta työpaikkana ja kotimaana korkeasti koulutetuille ja amma…

The CINHEKS Research Design: Taking Stock and Moving Forward

Comparative research design, at its best, in an international project focused on a complex topic, is a dynamic, iterative and on-going process. In the CINHEKS study this proved to be the case, both by design and in several ways our team did not, nor could not, anticipate. The tensions between purposeful planning, inevitable setbacks and serendipity turned out to be one of the most interesting aspects of CINHEKS and the purpose of this chapter is to take a step back, well outside methodological convention, to holistically and critically reflect on the lessons learned during the planning and execution of the CINHEKS comparative study. This chapter is an analysis of our efforts regarding the c…

Main Findings and Discussion

This chapter ‘connects the dots’ between the outcomes of the CINHEKS study and relates these to contemporary higher education research practice and policy. This conclusion summarizes our main theoretical and conceptual findings, central empirical results and methodological advances in a way that illuminates the key issues and questions brought into view by the CINHEKS study, as a whole. Our findings are critically contextualized in terms of general challenges in higher education studies, which borrow far more than we generate, especially in terms of theory, conceptual problematization, methodology and methods. Theoretically, the analytical synthesis of network knowledge society is highlight…

The historical potential of flux in this unique moment. Conceptually highlighting an opportunity for praxis-driven change

The historical potential of flux in this unique moment : Conceptually highlighting an opportunity for praxis-driven change

Higher education research in Finland : emerging structures and contemporary issues

Explaining the Difference between Policy-Based Evidence and Evidence-Based Policy: A Nexus Analysis Approach to Mobilities and Migration

Abstract In this policy analysis, we explain the difference between policy-based evidence (PBE) and evidence-based policy (EBP). We argue that better, evidence-based understanding, explanations, and questions can be sought by problematizing the challenging forms of twenty-first century migration and mobilities. We emphasize that this can be done by not confusing PBE with EBP, especially when each is needed as a basis for specific types of action. By focusing on topics often viewed as “unrelated” or confused with one another, we underline the social dynamics that are unfamiliar to many policy actors, professionals, and stakeholders, who rely on scholars for actionable analyses. Our mode of i…

Maybe-ing and must be-ing in higher education

Volatile Markets and Reluctant Entrepreneurs?

Winston (1999) asks how well experience with the microeconomic theory of firms and commercial markets helps in understanding the economics of higher education. “That experience and those insights will be used by trustees, politicians, administrators, lawyers, reporters and the public, as well as by economists, to understand and evaluate the behavior of colleges and universities” (Winston, 1999, p. 13). What is interesting is who is not mentioned: faculty and students. This is because Winston’s purpose is to problematize the economic analogies of student and customer, as well as faculty markets and labor markets. Winton’s purpose is now very relevant in Finland. As of 1 January 2010, the Fin…