Governance and performance of research

An international comparison of scientific systems and their organisations

Start of the project: 2016-Jan-01 - End of the project: 2019-Apr-30

In the light of increasing competition between national research systems and their organisations the relationship of research governance and research performance has moved into the focus of science policy and science studies.

Past research on the governance and performance of scientific systems has concentrated on two barely connected research fields: on the one hand quantitative research on performance, which analyses and compares research statistics and bibliometric data; on the other hand qualitative oriented governance research that has identified different governance mechanisms. Thus, for instance, the model of “governance equalizer” (de Boer / Enders / Schimank 2008) points out five analytical dimensions: state regulation, stakeholder guidance, academic self-governance, managerial self-governance and competition.

The project focuses on a comparative five-country study (Germany, Denmark, England, France, and the Netherlands) and the interrelation between research governance and research performance on three analytical levels: first, the macro-level of national research systems, second, the meso-level of research organisations and third, the micro-level of the scientific practices of individual scientists.

  1. Which governance regimes, instruments and structural peculiarities are characteristic for the selected national research systems? To what extent do the national research systems differ in their research performance? (macro-level)
  2. How do universities and extramural research organisations handle those national governance frameworks, i.e. act with or against them? How does this affect organisational performance? (meso-level)
  3. To what extent does the organisational implementation of governance frameworks shape the research conditions and practices of individual scientists? (micro-level)

The questions are tackled by a mixed-methods design that involves both qualitative (document analysis and guided interviews) and quantitative methods (science and research statistics, bibliometrics and an online survey).

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Publications

The Long and Winding Road to Excellence: The German Case.

Möller, T., & Hornbostel, S. (2023).
The Long and Winding Road to Excellence: The German Case. In M. Yudkevich, P. G. Altbach, & J. Salmi (Hrsg.), Academic Star Wars: Excellence Initiatives in Global Perspective (S. 177-201). Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/14601.003.0012

Governance und Performanz von Forschung.

Möller, T. (2019).
Governance und Performanz von Forschung. Wissenschaftssysteme und ihre Organisationen im internationalen Vergleich. Schlussbericht. Berlin: DZHW.

The Impact of Research Funding Agencies on the Research Performance of five European Countries. A Funding Acknowledgements Analysis.

Möller, T. (2019).
The Impact of Research Funding Agencies on the Research Performance of five European Countries. A Funding Acknowledgements Analysis. In Catalano, G., Daraio, C., Gregori, M., Moed, H. F., & Ruocco, G (Hrsg.) Proceedings of the 17th Conference of the International Society for Scientometrics and Informetrics (ISSI 2019), Vol. 2, (S. 2279-2287). Edizioni Efesto. ISBN 978-88-3381-118-5.

National Evaluation Systems and Universities' Strategic Capacities: Case Studies among European Universities.

Behrmann, L., & Sembritzki, T. (2019).
National Evaluation Systems and Universities' Strategic Capacities: Case Studies among European Universities. In Pritchard, R.M.O., O’Hara, M., Milsom, C., Williams, J., & Matei , L. (Hrsg.), The Three C-s of Higher Education. Competition, Collaboration and Complementarity (S. 107-130), Budapest/New York: Central European University Press.
Abstract

The rise of international competition evokes different evaluation practices on a national and organisational level. Focussing on three National Evaluation Systems (NES) for universities in the UK, France, and Germany – this paper compares the role of evaluation for and in university governance. By providing insights into interviews with key actors of university governance, we present how NES produce knowledge, open up communication processes as well as scopes or limits of action in use for their strategies. This study comes to the conclusion that evaluations help organisational actors to operate strategically and that they foster the emergence of an organisational actorhood.

Same objectives, different governance – How the Excellence Initiative and the Pact for Research and Innovation affect the German science system.

Möller, T. (2018).
Same objectives, different governance – How the Excellence Initiative and the Pact for Research and Innovation affect the German science system. Journal for Research and Technology Policy Evaluation, 45, 4-8.

Zur Entwicklung des Europäischen Forschungsraums. Eine bibliometrische Analyse.

Möller, T. (2017).
Zur Entwicklung des Europäischen Forschungsraums. Eine bibliometrische Analyse. Internationalisierung, Vielfalt und Inklusion in der Wissenschaft (IVI), 2-2017, 52-60.
Presentations

Comparing the French and German science system, using survey and bibliometric data on research funding.

Möller, T. (2022, Januar).
Comparing the French and German science system, using survey and bibliometric data on research funding. Vortrag auf dem Workshop Scientometric Joint Seminar, Science and technology observatory (OST) & German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), Paris.

Excellence Initiative and Excellence Strategy.

Möller, T. (2021, Oktober).
Excellence Initiative and Excellence Strategy. Vortrag im Rahmen der Plant 2030 Academy "The German Science System".

Forschungsbedingungen, Governance und Performanz der Forschung: Hochschulsysteme im internationalen Vergleich.

Möller, T. (2021, Juni).
Forschungsbedingungen, Governance und Performanz der Forschung: Hochschulsysteme im internationalen Vergleich. Vortrag auf dem Workshop Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Leistungsmessung im Hochschulsektor, TU Braunschweig.

Forschungsbedingungen im internationalen Vergleich. Eine Befragung von Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern in fünf europäischen Ländern.

Möller, T. (2021, April).
Forschungsbedingungen im internationalen Vergleich. Eine Befragung von Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern in fünf europäischen Ländern. Vortrag auf dem Workshop Wandel der Universitäten und ihres gesellschaftlichen Umfelds: Folgen für die Wissenschaftsfreiheit?, Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin.

Governance und Performanz von Forschung. Wissenschaftssysteme und ihre Organisationen im internationalen Vergleich.

Möller, T., Behrmann, L., & Sembritzki, T. (2019, November).
Governance und Performanz von Forschung. Wissenschaftssysteme und ihre Organisationen im internationalen Vergleich. Workshop zur Evaluation der DZHW-Integrationsprojekte, DZHW, Hannover.

The Impact of Research Funding Agencies on the Research Performance of five European Countries. A Funding Acknowledgements Analysis.

Möller, T. (2019, September).
The Impact of Research Funding Agencies on the Research Performance of five European Countries. A Funding Acknowledgements Analysis. Vortrag auf der 17th International Conference on Scientometrics & Informetrics, 2-5.9.2019, Rom, Italy.

Research Conditions and Governance Instruments. An International University Survey in Five European Countries.

Möller, T., & Neufeld, J. (2019, August).
Research Conditions and Governance Instruments. An International University Survey in Five European Countries. Vortrag auf der 32nd Conference of the Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER), 28.-30.08.2019, Kassel.

German Excellence Initiative – Does it works?

Möller, T. (2019, Mai).
German Excellence Initiative – Does it works? 13th Workshop on Organization, Economics and Policy of Scientific Research. University of Bordeaux, 20.5.-21.5.2019, Bordeaux, France.

Qualitative und quantitative Evaluationen von Forschung und die innerorganisationale Handlungskoordination in Universitäten. Ein internationaler Vergleich.

Behrmann, L., & Sembritzki, T. (2019, Februar).
Qualitative und quantitative Evaluationen von Forschung und die innerorganisationale Handlungskoordination in Universitäten. Ein internationaler Vergleich. Vortrag auf der 14. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Hochschulforschung 2019 (GfHf); Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg.

Forschungsgovernance und Forschungshandeln im internationalen Vergleich.

Neufeld, J., & Möller, T. (2018, November).
Forschungsgovernance und Forschungshandeln im internationalen Vergleich. Vortrag im Rahmen des Kolloquiums des DZHW Berlin.

Research Conditions in Europe – An International Survey on Governance and Performance.

Neufeld, J., & Möller, T. (2018, Oktober).
Research Conditions in Europe – An International Survey on Governance and Performance. Präsentation auf dem Workshop “Governance of Research and Its Effects – An International Comparison”, 11.10.2018, Hannover.

" What to do next? " Research Evaluations, Development Contracts, and their Impact on Universities’ Governance.

Behrmann, L., & Sembritzki, T. (2018, Oktober).
" What to do next? " Research Evaluations, Development Contracts, and their Impact on Universities’ Governance. Vortrag auf dem internationalen Workshop " Governance of Research and Its Effects – An International Comparison " , DZHW, Hannover.

Introduction - Governance and Performance of Research.

Möller, T. (2018, Oktober).
Introduction - Governance and Performance of Research. Präsentation auf dem Workshop " Governance of Research and Its Effects- An International Comparison " , Hannover.

Forschungsgovernance und Forschungshandeln – ein internationaler Vergleich.

Neufeld, J., & Möller, T. (2018, September).
Forschungsgovernance und Forschungshandeln – ein internationaler Vergleich. Präsentation auf dem 39. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie. Sektion Modellbildung und Simulation - Beschleunigungs- und Entgrenzungsdynamiken in der Wissenschaft, 24.-28.9.2018, Göttingen.

International Shift in Public Research Funding - Why Is Research at Universities Becoming More Important.

Möller, T., Behrmann, L., & Sembritzki, T. (2018, August/September).
International Shift in Public Research Funding - Why Is Research at Universities Becoming More Important. Vortrag auf der 31. Annual Conference of the Consortium of Higher Education Researchers (CHER) " Differentiation and Integration in Higher Education: Patterns and Dynamics " , 30.8.-1.9.2018, Moscow, Russia.

Research Evaluations and their Impact on University Governance. A Comparison of five European Countries.

Sembritzki, T., Behrmann, L., & Möller, T. (2018, August).
Research Evaluations and their Impact on University Governance. A Comparison of five European Countries. Vortrag auf dem EAIR 40th Annual Forum " Competition, Collaboration & Complementarity in Higher Education " , Central European University, Budapest.

Research Evaluation at and for universities - A comparison of governance instruments in five European countries.

Behrmann, L., Sembritzki, T., & Möller, T. (2018, Juni).
Research Evaluation at and for universities - A comparison of governance instruments in five European countries. Posterpräsentation auf der EU-SPRI " Governance and relevance: Towards a new generation of research and innovation policies " , Paris, Frankreich.

Governance und Performanz von Forschung - Wissenschaftssysteme und ihre Organisationen im internationalen Vergleich.

Möller, T., Behrmann, L., Neufeld, J., & Sembritzki, T. (2018, April).
Governance und Performanz von Forschung - Wissenschaftssysteme und ihre Organisationen im internationalen Vergleich. BMBF, Berlin.

From Government Research to Higher Education Research – The International Shift in Public Research Funding.

Möller, T. (2017, Oktober).
From Government Research to Higher Education Research – The International Shift in Public Research Funding. Vortrag auf der Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2017, 9.10.-11.10.2017, Atlanta, USA.

Enhancing the Research Performance and Competitiveness of Higher Education Institutions – A Comparative Analysis of five European Countries.

Möller, T. (2017, September).
Enhancing the Research Performance and Competitiveness of Higher Education Institutions – A Comparative Analysis of five European Countries. Vortrag auf dem 14th International Workshop on Higher Education Reform. Enhancing Performance and Productivity in Higher Education, 26.-28.9.2017, Hiroshima University, Japan.

How to govern Science and Innovation? A comparison of advisory bodies and their contribution to national STI-policies in Germany and the UK.

Sembritzki, T. (2017, September).
How to govern Science and Innovation? A comparison of advisory bodies and their contribution to national STI-policies in Germany and the UK. Vortrag auf der INET-Conference for young scholars " Innovation, Institutions and Governance " , Tallinn, Estland.

Öffentliche Forschung im Ländervergleich – Hochschulen auf dem Vormarsch?

Möller, T., & Kressin, L. (2016, Dezember).
Öffentliche Forschung im Ländervergleich – Hochschulen auf dem Vormarsch? Vortrag im Rahmen des Kolloquiums des DZHW Berlin.

Same objectives, different governance - How the Excellence Initiative and the Pact for Research and Innovation effect the German science system.

Möller, T. (2016, November).
Same objectives, different governance - How the Excellence Initiative and the Pact for Research and Innovation effect the German science system. Posterpräsentation auf der International RTI Policy Evaluation Conference " Open Evaluation 2016 " , Wien.

Governance and Performance in its national and European context.

Möller, T., Kressin, L., & Behrmann, L. (2016, Oktober).
Governance and Performance in its national and European context. Vortrag auf der Tagung " Research into Europeanization " der Europa-Universität Flensburg, Flensburg.

Governance und Wirkungen von Förderprogrammen - Die Exzellenzinitiative und der Pakt für Forschung und Innovation.

Möller, T. (2016, April).
Governance und Wirkungen von Förderprogrammen - Die Exzellenzinitiative und der Pakt für Forschung und Innovation. Neue Formen der Governance in Hochschulen und Forschungseinrichtungen: Forschungsstand und -perspektiven. Vortrag auf der 11. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Hochschulforschung, München.

Governance und Performanz von Forschung - Wissenschaftssysteme und ihre Organisationen im internationalen Vergleich. Neue Formen der Governance in Hochschulen und Forschungseinrichtungen: Forschungsstand und -perspektiven.

Möller, T., Kleimann, B., Kressin, L., & Behrmann, L. (2016, April).
Governance und Performanz von Forschung - Wissenschaftssysteme und ihre Organisationen im internationalen Vergleich. Neue Formen der Governance in Hochschulen und Forschungseinrichtungen: Forschungsstand und -perspektiven. Vortrag auf der 11. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Hochschulforschung, München.

Die Exzellenzinitiative und der Pakt für Forschung und Innovation - Governance, Ziele und Wirkungen.

Möller, T. (2016, Februar).
Die Exzellenzinitiative und der Pakt für Forschung und Innovation - Governance, Ziele und Wirkungen. Vortrag auf dem 18. Workshop Hochschulmanagement, Hamburg.

Contact person

Torger Möller
Dr. Torger Möller +49 30 2064177-30

Funded by

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung