Governance and performance in the German public research sector: disciplinary differences

Today, higher education and research institutions are confronted with variable and sometimes contradictory demands from state, industry and society. They have to face growing volatility in education policy, and a research paradigm that sees an accelerating rate of knowledge growth as well as the internationalization of the knowledge process itself. It is vital that academics and policymakers stay abreast of the impact that policy changes have on education and research in tertiary institutions. Based on a sector-specific theory model for the governance of research organizations, this book outlines evidence of the effects of the so-called ‘new public management reforms’ in the German universityand public research sector. The volume aims to shed some light on the differences between the disciplines in input, throughput, profiles of output and the typical conditions of knowledge production, disparities that are currently little understood and are thus not reflected in government policy as ministers implement new governance forms in the research system. It analyzes in detail these new forms, and demonstrates how they affect knowledge production and research performance from the level of research group up to that of the system itself. The authors focus on a set of disciplines that represent the breadth of research divisions in major universities: natural science fields oriented to basic research (astrophysics), two application-oriented fields from the natural sciences (nanoscience and biotechnology), a social science field (economics) anda humanity field (medieval history). Discusses discipline-specific performance indicator systems and measurement Offers an integrated interdisciplinary approach to the concept of governance from the perspective of law and social sciences Offers insight into disciplinary differences in knowledge production and research collaboration Covers the interplay between various levels of governance in the research system from the micro-level of the research group up to organizational levels and the state and national level INDICE: Governance in Science Policy.- An Introduction; Jansen, D.Part 1: Effects of Science Law and Science Policy on Performance.1.1 Dimensions and Efficiency of Scientific Activities – Linking Individual and System Performance in a New Public Management Context; Schmoch/Schubert.- 1.2 Disciplinary Differences and their Reflection in Law; Trute/Pilniok.- Part 2: New Governance of Research and Effects on Performance.2.1 Is Nanoscience a „Mode 2' Field? Disciplinary Differences in Modes of Knowledge Production and the Influence of Science Policy; Jansen et al.- 2.2 The Effects of New Governance Approaches on Research in the Humanities.- The Example of Medieval History; Kehm/Leisyte.- Part 3: New Governance of PhD Education and Effects on Performance.3.1 The Performance of German Research Training Groups in Different Disciplinary Fields: An Empirical Assessment; Backes-Gellner U.- et al.- 3.2 Success and Failure of PhD Programs: An Empirical Study of the Interplay between Interests, Resources, and Organisation; Sadowski D.- et al.- 3.3 Conclusion; Jansen, D.- Appendix: Introduction; Görtz, R.et al.- Astrophysics; Görtz, R.et al.- Nano Science & Technology; Heinze, T.- Economics; Schubert, T.- Medical Biotechnology; Smoch,U.- et al.- Authors index.- Glossary.- Bibliography.

• ISBN: 978-90-481-9138-3
• Editorial: Springer
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 150
• Fecha Publicación: 03/08/2010
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés