Articles

Recent years show an increasing demand for reliable data about Early Career Researchers expressed by Higher Education Institutions as well as political decision makers. At the same time it has become more difficult for empirical higher education researchers who produce such data to get access to the field. For many of these studies the support of HEI´s is needed to systematically reach the target groups. However, HEI´s often react reluctantly to corresponding inquiries by researchers, because of the effort involved and diverging expectations regarding the studies’ thematic priorities and the presentation of results. The article outlines and assesses in this context the strategic approach of the National Academics Panel Study (Nacaps).

In higher education research and policy the thesis is widespread that the strong growth in the participation in higher education is one reason for the increasing heterogenization in the composition of the student population. Based on several indicators the following article analyses to what extent the structure of the student population has actually become more heterogeneous. For this purpose the analysis refers to time series data which allow a comparison between at least two points in time. According to this evidence the result is differentiated. Whereas some indicators show increasing heterogenization other indicators prove the contrary, a rising homogenization in the social structure of students.

This paper introduces the concept of standard-relevant publications, complementary to standard-essential patents and framed by the concept of knowledge utilization. By analyzing the reference lists of the around 20,000 standards released by ISO, authors of scientific papers cited in standards who are working at German institutions were identified. The institutions include universities, independent research societies, ministerial research institutes and companies. Almost thirty interviews were conducted with the most-cited of these authors. The interviews addressed the processes by which scientific publications come to be referenced in standards, and the motivations, the barriers and the effects of this.

This editorial to the special issue on heterogeneous effects of studying abroad starts with a review of studies on the determinants and individual-level effects of studying abroad. On that basis, it illustrates the necessity to place more emphasis on effect heterogeneity in research on international student mobility. It then develops a typology of heterogeneous effects of studying abroad, which shall function as an agenda for future research in the field. Thereafter, the editorial introduces the contributions to the special issue. It concludes by summarising major findings and directions for future research.

Studying abroad can positively influence students’ personality development, transversal skills, and labour market outcomes. At the same time, students from a high social origin are more likely to study abroad than students from a low social origin. Against this background, recent research has suggested that international student mobility (ISM) may foster the reproduction of social inequality. However, this assumption has hardly been tested empirically. Drawing on social stratification theory, we first demonstrate that a scenario in which ISM increases social inequality (cumulative advantage) is as plausible as a scenario in which it decreases social inequality (compensatory levelling).