Social Innovation: the impact of Higher Education,
how can it be measured and monitored?
Montréal 2015Sijbolt Noorda
President Magna Charta Observatory
Montréal IAU1May 7-8, 2015
• The Magna Charta Observatory of Fundamental University Values and Rights is a non-profit organisation based on the Magna Charta declaration of 1988, founded by the University of Bologna and the Council of European rectors, now associated with EUA and IAU
• from its beginnings it wished to become a worldwide program and project
Montréal IAU2May 7-8, 2015
776 signatories from 81 countries
Montréal IAU3May 7-8, 2015
‘ The university is an autonomous institution at the heart of societies differently organized becauseof geography and historical heritage; it produces, examines, appraises and hands down culture by research and teaching. To meet the needs of the world around it, its research and teaching must be morally and intellectually independent of all political authority and economic power.’
[from Magna Charta Universitatum]
Montréal IAU4May 7-8, 2015
what shall we do in this workshop?• we’ll talk and think about the impact of HEIs on
social innovation• and the ways in which this is being measured
and monitored• at both ends of the line, in society as well as in
HEIs• higher education not as end in itself, but rather as
part of a chain of experiences and developments in society
May 7-8, 2015Montréal IAU5
function public / private good benefits
value purpose impact assessment markets effect relevance
use significance mission accountability
trust usefulness performance quality
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what’s the concept?• impact has become a popular concept to express the
value of higher education and research for its users.
• It is not a new concept. Although the term “impact” is a relative newcomer to Higher Education policy speak, the realities it refers to are perennial. Terminology may vary (value, purpose, effect, relevance) the issue is a constant.
• And rightly so. Universities are no l’art pour l’art workshops and they never were meant to be. Even at times when they served society through elites.
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what’s new?• the novelty is not in the issue but in the realities and
attitudes• responsive universities (or rather: any HEI) must
constantly read their map and re-position themselves to optimize their value
• yet, ‘value creation’ cannot be a one-way-street; the product of HE is way too complicated for just a delivery mode
• so society – businesses as well as not-for-profits, government as well as students – should get involved rather than just receive (in the customer mode)
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current focus
• In the case of social innovation higher education’s impact happens along a broad variety of lines and programs
• via teaching & learning as well as research & valorisation
• by way of attitudes & culture as well as concrete projects & solutions
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the challenge of measuring and monitoring
• To know what we’re doing and what works and what doesn’t we must monitor impact and be accountable
• How to do justice to it in qualitative terms as well as in quantitative terms?
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if not quantifiable it doesn’t count
• admissions & recruitments• ranking lists & reputation scores• performance indicators• bibliometrics, including impact scores • financial figures• awards & grants• patents & licenses, et cetera
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the qualitative value of multiple virtues
• public trust reliable, civil, undisguised [overall impression]
• student satisfaction inspiring, competent, well-suited [educational experience]
• partner confidence sustainable, dedicated, efficient [academic and business performance]
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impact? not uncomplicated• what a university must do to make a strong
impression on its users, partners, regulators and/or funders is not a single and simple issue
• but rather a mix of accountability, market performance and trust generation by a broad variety of activities and qualities, involving many actors and institutes, requiring shared values and common attitudes & professional achievements all over the place
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what is going on in society that (re-)defines the role of HEIs?
• growing complexities & social dynamics• trust crisis & quest for integrity, transparency, openness and accountability
• grand challenges requiring new ways of multidisciplinary thinking
• globalization, culture blending & parochialism
• increasing competition & volatility• et cetera
May 7-8, 2015Montréal IAU18
what shall we do in this workshop?• we’ll talk and think about the impact of HEIs on
social innovation• and the ways in which this is being measured
and monitored• at both ends of the line, in society as well as in
HEIs• higher education not as end in itself, but rather as
part of a chain of experiences and developments in society
May 7-8, 2015Montréal IAU19