Vilnius, EAIR 2009 Benchmarking in European Higher Education : A step beyond current quality models...
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Transcript of Vilnius, EAIR 2009 Benchmarking in European Higher Education : A step beyond current quality models...
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
Benchmarking in European Higher Education : A step beyond current
quality models
Nadine Burquel
ESMU Secretary General
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
OVERVIEW
Findings of two-year EU-funded project (2006-2008)
ESMU, CHE, UNESCO-CEPES, University of Aveiro
Literature on benchmarking in higher education
Investigation of 18 collaborative benchmarking groups
Potential to go beyond current quality approaches
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
CONTEXT - HIGHER EDUCATION
Increasingly competitive environments Need to increase (institutional) performance – Pressures
Policy level (national, European level) Lisbon Agenda, Bologna Process
- Lack of sufficient data gathering on institutional performance in European universities
- Quality : Accountability/bureaucratisation vs. enhancement
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
BENCHMARKING
Performance targets Set by institutions themselves Ownership of results
Systematic comparison of core institutional processes Leads to innovative practice for improved organisational
performance Not ranking (false benchmarking) but inter-organisational learning
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
ORIGINS OF BENCHMARKING
Private sector – Xerox Corporation Public sector – New public management Higher Education
Implicit benchmarking (peer reviews/site visits) Explicit formalisation
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
BENCHMARKING CONCEPTS & PRACTICES
Enormous literature on benchmarking– Focus on practice Yorke (1999)
Wide diversity of HEIs “There can be no single reference point for the purposes of
benchmarking” Schofield (1998)
Difficulties of definitions “ Term varies considerably between different approaches &
practitioners” Alstete (1995) - Four types voluntary explicit benchmarking
internal benchmarking external competitive benchmarking external collaborative benchmarking comparisons external trans-industry (best-in-class) benchmarking
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
BENCHMARKING CONCEPTS & PRACTICES (2)
UNESCO-CEPES (2007) – Building on existing literature : Seven types internal benchmarking external competitive benchmarking functional benchmarking trans institutional benchmarking implicit benchmarking generic benchmarking Process-based benchmarking
Term used for very different practices Mere comparison of statistical data and indicators Detailed analyses of processes within institutions Diagnostic instrument, self-improvement tool, collaborative learning Danger – A ‘catch all’ phrase
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
EXAMPLESCOLLABORATIVE BENCHMARKING
National groups : NACUBO (US-2), ACODE (AUS), CHE (DE-3), HIS (DE-3), Italy,
HESA (2) Transnational groups :
Aarhus network, ECIU (2), ESMU, ACU, IDEA League Fourteen criteria
Institutional nature, group character, mgt, size, membership, level of participation
Goals, performance-basis, methodology, input or output focus, Geographical scope, timeline, reporting, finances
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
EXAMPLESCOLLABORATIVE BENCHMARKING (2)
Initiating the benchmarking, gathering data and implementing results Different approaches, focus, size No common model or clusters of characterics
Geographical differences US-True and false benchmarking (Farquhar, 98) AUS-Not sufficient systematic use of benchmarking (AUQA, 07) Europe-So far, small number of institutions involved
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
Going a step further “Our” definition
Benchmarking is a process inside an organisation with the aim to
improve its performance by learning about possible improvements
processes by looking at those processes in other, better-performing
organizations
-- Voluntary Process-- Self-evaluation•- Systematic & collaborative comparison of practices
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
Beyond quality Quality – Difficulties with definitions Major issue :
Is quality part of the product or service OR depends on customer ? In HE : Quality of university education, OR student satisfaction ?
Harvey & Green (1993) distinguished Quality as Exceptional (‘excellence’) Perfection or consistency (‘zero errors’, achieving standards) Fitness for purpose (mission-based ‘do what you promise’) Value for money Transformation
ISO9000 definition of ‘quality’ : Totality of features of a product/service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs’
No info about acceptable level of quality (exception – external standards)
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT BENCHMARKING?
Inter-organisational learning Improve performance of an institution & identify gaps of performance Requires methods : Some form of evaluation/measurement BUT
• Measurement as tool (i.e. where improvements are needed)• More focus on learning process than other Quality approaches
Measuring externally visible performance (KPIs’) - only the beginning of benchmarking
Real issue – Achieving high performance Aim - find out about good practice, not only good
performance
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
A STEP BY STEP SYSTEMATIC APPROACH
Initial steps of starting the benchmarking exercise Clarifying background Experience with benchmarking Defining purpose Gaining commitment and selecting partners
Conducting the benchmarking exercise Resourcing and managing the exercise Gathering data
Reporting results (internally and externally) Implementing results
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
TO CONCLUDE
Development of benchmarking in higher education Work in progress Still limited use in higher education
Belongs to the quality movement Context increasing competition Goes further than current quality approaches
Identification of strengths and weakness Setting relevant targets for increased performance Continuous improvement, not as an isolated exercise but a core
tool to support strategic developments Requires commitment to change, investment in human and financial
resources and a rigourous professional approach
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
TO CONCLUDE (2)
Benchmarking into practice Second phase – new EU project (EBI-II)
Four university benchmarking groups : curriculum reforms, university-enterprise cooperation, lifelong learning, governance
A European-wide central place for information and exchange CHARME project – Benchmarking medical education Benchmarking e-learning End 2009/2010 – Benchmarking applied research (for UAS network)
Vilnius, EAIR 2009
QUESTIONS & MORE INFORMATION?
Nadine Burquel [email protected]
EBI-II Benchmarking in European Higher Education
www.education-benchmarking.org
Other benchmarking exercises
ESMU www.esmu.be