Multiple futures for higher education in a multi-level structure

Havas, Attila (2011): Multiple futures for higher education in a multi-level structure. Published in: Curaj, A., Scott, P., Vlasceanu, L., Wilson, L. (eds) [2012]: European Higher Education at the Crossroads: Between the Bologna Process and National Reforms, Heidelberg: Springer (May 2012): pp. 965-993.

Abstract

‘Futures’ (images of the future) are often devised at the level of a single university or at a national level for the overall higher education system. However, the bulk of trends and driving forces shaping universities’ future are international in their nature and universities operate in broader socio-economic and S&T systems. Hence, futures devised in a multi-level structure would better assist decision-makers and stakeholders. This approach is a demanding one in several respects, but offers significant advantages: (i) the potential changes in the social, economic and S&T systems, in which universities are embedded, as well as their impacts on higher education can be considered systematically; (ii) the substantial diversity of higher education systems and individual universities can be taken into account; and (iii) the likely impacts of various policy options can also be analysed.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: mission, methods, and models of higher education; multiple futures; multi-level prospective analysis; features and benefits of forward looking techniques; methodological experiment
• Subjects: O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O38 - Government Policy; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I21 - Analysis of Education; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O39 - Other; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I2 - Education and Research Institutions > I28 - Government Policy

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