URGE

"University Reform, Globalization and Europeanization"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'This multidisciplinary exchange programme examines how processes of regionalization and globalization are redefining the nature and scope of universities. A comparison between the regions of Europe and Australasia, especially New Zealand, will ask what is actually going on in apparently similar processes of university reform? Are process of creating a European Higher Education Area not only preparing Europe for global competition but also acting as a model and motor for globalisation in other regions?

The programme has 6 Work Packages. WP 1-2 (‘methodologies’) will develop a new conceptual and theoretical framework to analyse the globalisation of higher education. WP 3-4 will compare how ‘coordination’ of HE operates across different regional spaces and how universities are being reshaped as knowledge organisations. WP 5-6 (‘impact’) will develop extended case studies to examine how these processes affect research practices and the mission of the university. The 4-year programme of exchanges will create enduring partnerships between three established research centres specialising on different aspects of university reform at Aarhus University in Denmark, Bristol University in the UK, and Auckland University in New Zealand - which signed its first STA with the EU in 2008.

Each package combines senior and junior researchers in research training, sharing knowledge and research development. Each yields clear outputs: workshops to discuss results, website and working papers, and a book covering the scientific achievements. Knowledge generated will benefit policy makers concerned with building research capacity and understanding the challenges posed by the regionalization and globalization of tertiary education. Visits between the three universities’ research support staff will further assist the long term aim of developing joint projects and long-term collaboration, and will assist in promoting knowledge transfer between EU and Third Countries.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

A multidisciplinary, international look at knowledge exchange sheds light on how regionalisation and globalisation redefine the nature, mission and scope of universities.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Regionalisation and globalisation constitute a part of everyday reality in all spheres of life and that includes universities. Universities serve as a means to interconnect people in a microcosm while at the same time preparing them for global competition.

The EU-funded project 'University reform, globalization and Europeanization' (URGE) delved into creating long-term partnerships between three research centres specialising on different facets of university reform. The work involved 25 staff members from universities in Australia, Denmark and the United Kingdom. Forty international exchange visits, 24 research seminars, and 11 major conferences and workshops were realised over the project's 4-year duration.

Through a conceptual and theoretical framework, the project traced the differences and similarities in university reform. This helped to obtain a deeper understanding of how university practices interrelate with processes of globalisation. URGE also compared how higher education is being conducted across Europe and elsewhere.

Case studies were used to check these processes and determine how they reshape academic practices as well as university objectives. Five PhD courses, 9 working papers, 40 articles and a book proposal are further indications of the project's success. The achievements include new methodologies and frameworks used for further transnational research and study.

Beyond that, the knowledge generated is useful for policymakers in understanding how reform can have an impact on universities and the research they conduct through a multi-pronged context. By seeing the point of view of administrators, academics and students, policymakers have a broader understanding of new ways to connect society to a university and its work.