Hochschulsteuerung im Kontext der Autonomie der Universitäten (University Governance in the Context of University Autonomy)
WIFO-Monatsberichte, 2013, 86(2), S.159-171
 
Schon seit langem betonen makroökonomische Untersuchungen die Rolle von Wissen für den Entwicklungsprozess einer Volkswirtschaft. Immer mehr gewinnt nun auch die mikroökonomische Untersuchung der Zusammenhänge zwischen Wissen und Wachstum an Bedeutung, darunter die Analyse der Organisation der wissensproduzierenden Sektoren in einer Volkswirtschaft. Hochschulen sind die wohl wichtigsten Säulen der Wissensproduktion und Wissensvermittlung. Ihre Steuerung, insbesondere hinsichtlich der Qualität, ist im Kontext ihrer Autonomie herausfordernd. Das derzeitige System der Leistungsvereinbarungen kann Qualitätsstrategien der Universitäten nur schwer adäquat unterstützen. Alternative Systeme sind möglich, erfordern aber begleitende Reformen der Karriere- und Organisationsstrukturen.
Keywords:Anreize Universitätsorganisation
Forschungsbereich:Industrie-, Innovations- und internationale Ökonomie
Sprache:Deutsch

University Governance in the Context of University Autonomy
Institutions of higher education are central to knowledge-based societies. The extent to which they accomplish their tasks such as providing the requisite quantity and quality of research and teaching is of ever growing importance for the economy and society at large. At the same time, international competition for scientists and students makes it harder for these institutions to live up to their tasks. Against this background, the governance of autonomous higher education institutions is particularly complex. The Austrian governance system faces difficulties when it comes to improving the quality of research and teaching. Alternative options would be more apt at governing quality aspects, e.g., as regards research-competitive peer-review project funding or peer evaluations of research performance. To be successful, they require more funding as well as structural reforms of career paths for Austrian researchers and organisational structures at universities (changing from the institute model to the department model). In particular, career perspectives for young scientists need to be improved. Such alternative governance options would lead to an increased vertical differentiation of the higher education sector in Austria, which would help meet the quantity as well as quality criteria of higher education.