There is an open Call for Papers for the journal Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung (ZFHE), under the topic "New Models of the university: innovative structures, adaptive responses, and strategic behavior".For detailed information, please click here.

The University of Agder, in Norway, is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join for a full-time, three-year position, starting in spring 2025. This role is part of the Horizon project, IANUS (Integrative MSCA Achievements and Networks for Unified Strategies). The IANUS project aims to maximize the strategic impact of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).

The candidate should preferably have an interest in topics such as research policies, evaluation, scientific mobility.

The position is based in Kristiansand, Norway. The university is seeking candidates with a PhD in a social science discipline, and to submit an application preferably by 15^th of January. For detailed information, please click here.

We are excited to invite you to the UNICOMM Online Symposium on Institutional Support of Student Engagement, a dynamic event bringing together researchers, practitioners, and students to explore innovative approaches to fostering active student participation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Europe.

Date: December 3rd, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (CET)
Platform: Microsoft Teams

Why Attend?

Learn and Exchange Ideas: Gain insights from research findings, real-world case studies, and innovative initiatives on student engagement.

Influence Change: Participate in discussions shaping sustainable, student-centric participation models.

Build Connections: Network with like-minded scholars, practitioners, and students from across Europe.

The symposium features a keynote by Dr. Manja Klemenčič, a leading expert in student engagement and governance, alongside presentations and a panel discussion with distinguished speakers from across Europe.

Participation is free, but registration is required. Visit our symposium homepage for detailed information and to register.

Join us for a day filled with engaging discussions and collaborative ideas. We look forward to welcoming you!

You may find detailed information on this event at https://fh-ooe.at/.../unicomm.../unicomm-online- symposium.

Together with his colleague Meng-Hsuan Chou from NTU Singapore, our CHER member Jens Jungblut, from the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Oslo, was successful in getting a panel accepted at the International Conference on Public Policy in Chiang Mai Thailand July 2-4, 2025.

Their panel is on "Comparing Higher Education Policy in Asia: Politics, Actors, and Processes" and you can find the call for papers below.

If you are interested in contributing to the panel, please submit your abstracts via the web site of the IPPA by January 31,2025: https://www.ippapublicpolicy.org/conference/icpp7-chiang-mai-2025/21.

The number of the panel is T21P05.

Comparing Higher Education Policy in Asia: Politics, Actors, and Processes

Asia is an exciting region for examining contemporary higher education politics and policies. Traditionally a sending region of international students, scholars, and scientists to established institutions in the West, Asian governments are transforming the region into an attractive global destination for scientific talents. This is visible in world university rankings where flagship universities from China, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, or South Korea are recognised alongside top institutions from the West. Asia is also where new initiatives facilitating intra-, inter-, and trans-regional higher education cooperation are observed; hence, positioning the region as a node in the global higher education landscape. As Asian governments strive to stabilise their higher education systems amid demographic pressures and skill shortages, the literature tells us that non-democratic states would struggle to meet the demands of widening higher education access at the risk of system stability. Asia is home to a variety of democratic and authoritarian regimes; thus, examining the Asian experience provides an opportunity to assess this assumed relationship between higher education policies and democratic development, and how governments in the region are meeting global challenges.

This panel invites papers addressing one or several of the following overarching themes. First, the politics of higher education governance reforms focusses on how governments steer higher education, and the tools used to ensure that universities meet state and societal expectations. Second, the politics of higher education finance covers how higher education is funded and the politics behind changes in the funding system. Third, the framing of higher education policy over time explores how governments talk about higher education policy and the linkages they create between this policy area and other issues (e.g., economic growth, social mobility). Fourth, the varieties of Asian higher education regionalism identify the forms of, and mechanisms driving, regional institutional and policy collaboration.

All contributions must be empirically-grounded in at least one Asian country case study and analytically address the following: how higher education policies evolve over time, the robustness of existing higher education analytical frameworks and concepts, and any regional specificities concerning the role(s) of key actors, discourses, and structures in policy processes.

It is a pleasure to share with you the news that the Special Issue from the CHER 2023 Conference has been published in the European Journal of Higher Education.

This Special Issue publishes a selection of articles presented at the CHER 35th Annual Conference, hosted by the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU), and it is edited by Barbara Sporn and Ana Godonoga. European Journal of Higher Education, Volume 14, Issue sup1, October 2024 is now available online on Taylor & Francis Online.  

Abstract of the Introduction by the Editors, Barbara Sporn and Ana Godonoga:

 Higher education institutions (HEIs) can be considered both objects and subjects of societal change. They are impacted by transformations in society, including technological advancement, climate change, demographic shifts, and geopolitical tensions, but they are also in a position to create a positive impact on society. This requires HEIs to adapt to changing external contexts, which has implications for how education and research activities are designed and implemented, and how organisational structures and practices are reconfigured to strengthen linkages between universities and society. How higher education adapts to multiple and often conflicting demands and how through adaptation, HEIs can become more active change agents in society were of central interest to the 2023 CHER (Consortium of Higher Education Researchers) Conference and this special issue. The seven contributions presented herein provide a contemporary account on adaptation and impact in European higher education drawing on diverse theoretical perspectives, empirical data, and geographical contexts.