Transparency in higher education - actions
1. Classifying European Higher Education Institutions – the U-Map project
Started in 2005 and finalised in 2010, this project has developed a classification model to categorise the rich diversity of higher education institutions. It has developed an internet tool via which higher education institutions can categorise themselves according to their various missions, such as education, research, innovation, regional involvement and internationalisation. This will allow for an easier comparison between similar institutions. The project builds in part on the US Carnegie Classification.
The U-map classification model will be an important input for the design of a multi-dimensional ranking.
Rea more about the U-map project
2. Designing a global university ranking – the U-Multirank project
This feasibility project is examining ways to measure and make transparent the performances of higher education and research institutions, both within and outside the European Union, in their various missions, such as education, research, innovation, regional involvement and internationalisation. The project will look both at performances at institutional level and at programme level (in the selected pilot disciplines of engineering and business studies.
The aim is not to create a new league table with a ’top 10’ of best institutions, but rather to design and test the feasibility of a multidimensional ranking framework, where the different users can choose their own priorities and create their own personal ranking.
The project has started in May 2009 and will produce a final report in May 2011.
Read more about the U-Multirank project
3. Assessment of university research
An Expert Group on the Assessment of University-based research, created by the European Commission and consisting of academics, NGOs and education experts, has looked into how to create multidimensional assessments that take into account the perspective of different universities, disciplines and users, including universities, funding agencies, researchers and the private sector.
The final report of the Expert Group was published at the beginning of 2010.
4. Feasibility study for European University Data Collection – EUMIDA
This project is working towards building a complete census of European universities. It has launched a pilot data collection, encompassing basic data for all European universities and additional data for a sample of universities active in research. The aim of the project is to explore the feasibility of building a consistent and transparent European statistical infrastructure at the level of individual higher education institutions. The goal is to provide institutions and policy-makers with relevant information for the benchmarking and monitoring of trends for modernisation in higher education institutions and for defining new and appropriate evidence-based policies.
The first results are expected in 2010.
Read more about the EUMIDA project
5. Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes – AHELO
Another effort on education performance supported by the European Commission is the OECD feasibility study on the Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes in terms of generic skills and disciplinary skills in engineering and economics, which should be valid and comparable across the participating countries.
The project ’Tuning Educational Structures in Europe‘, funded by the EU’s Erasmus Programme on higher education, is part of this exercise. First results are expected in 2011.
