World-class universities: The sector requirements

Abstract

Much work has been done on the nature of and internal requirements for world-class universities. However, less work has been done on the sector requirements in which world-class universities might prosper. This chapter analyzes these sector requirements and proposes 10 as essential: (1) public income based on institutional performance, (2) income from nonstate sources, (3) differentiation of institutional missions, (4) institutional autonomy, (5) university ownership of property, (6) university nonprofit status and exemption from taxation, (7) open competition for state science, (8) independence of accreditation and professional licensing, (9) incentives for student and faculty diversity, and (10) incentives to improve quality. This chapter then analyzes the higher education sectors in eight OECD, grades each on the degree to which each of these elements is present, and finally proposes a summary grade for each country. This grade is a measure of the potential for world-class universities to prosper.