European Flagship Universities: balancing academic excellence and socio-economic relevance

The overall objective of this project is to contribute to a better understanding of the change dynamics of flagship universities in Europe. This is done by examining how these universities interpret and use their institutional autonomy in balancing the strife for scientific excellence and for securing the socio-economic relevance of their academic activities. A flagship university is defined as a comprehensive research-intensive university, located in one of its country's largest urban areas, and it is in general among the oldest and largest universities of its country. Besides the scholarly goals of the project, FLAGSHIP's aim is also to provide Norwegian universities and policy makers a comparative insight in the policy developments with respect to flagship universities in selected other European countries and the ways in which changes in Norwegian universities compare to these. The aim is further to contribute to the discussion on the room to manoeuvre of Norwegian universities and university colleges, as well as to the strengthening of the knowledge basis of Norwegian knowledge area policies. The project is organized in two main phases. First (2011-2012), European-level policy developments, as well as national-level legal, financial-economic, and political traditions and realities were analyzed. Based on these analyses, the strategic room to manoeuvre that flagship universities have has been examined in eleven selected universities in small nations in Northern and Western Europe (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland). Additionally, University of Warsaw in Poland and University of Melbourne in Australia have been investigated. Second (2013-2014), detailed case studies at the departmental level are undertaken in four fields: Chemistry, Psychology, Public Health, and Teacher Education. Investigating the practices of institutional autonomy at the shop floor level, we observe how formal changes through reforms and regulations intertwine with managerial intentionality (e.g. strategic planning) and institutional settings (structures, routines, cultures and identities), both in the area of personnel policies and research management.

This project relates to the first theme area of the FORFI programme, i.e. 'Norwegian research and innovation policy meeting the global structural changes facing research' More specifically the project will examine the ways in which European flagship unive rsities have adapted over the last ten years to far-reaching changes in their political and socio-economic environments, and the extent to which these adaptations are initiated and implemented by the institutional leadership or as a consequence of externa l change drivers. With Flagship university we refer in the project to a comprehensive research intensive university, located in one of its country?s largest urban areas. A flagship university is in general among the oldest and largest institutions for hig her learning of its country. The aim of the project is to provide Norwegian universities and policy makers with a better understanding of the change dynamics of flagship universities in selected other European countries and the ways in which changes in Norwegian universities compare to these. The countries in question are the small(er) countries in three regions bordering Germany on the North (Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden), the West (Belgium and the Netherlands), and the South ( Austria and Switzerland). Through this project we want to contribute to the Norwegian discussion on the room to manoeuvre ('handlingsrom') or autonomy of Norwegian universities and university colleges, as well as to the strengthening of the knowledge basi s of Norwegian knowledge area policies, especially in the areas of research and innovation.