New Forms of Governance in Research Organizations

Higher education and research institutions are confronted with changing and sometimes contradictory claims from state, industry and society, today. They have to face growing volatility and an acceleration and internationalization of the knowledge process. This book undertakes to develop a sector specific theory of governance of the public research sector and applies it to the German research system. The book is the outcome of a large interdisciplinary project. It analyzes the reforms in the German research system from an integrated perspective of law, economics and social sciences. The case of Germany is compared to reforms in other European countries such as Austria, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The study emphasizes an integrated approach considering the research function of universities as well as the non-university research sector. The focus is on the integration of external and internal governance. First, we pose the question how external competition and control mechanisms do influence internal governance of research institutions and universities and vice versa. Second, we discuss the consequences of these impacts on research.

Integrates legal and social science approaches to governance Comparative analysis of the governance of Higher Education and Research Systems Develops a comparative tool, the "governance equalizer" Covers the multi-level characteristics of research systems and their governance patterns Tests empirically prominent theses on the new dynamics of science (such as "mode 2 of knowledge production" and "triple helix" of research collaboration)

Autorentext
Dorothea Jansen ist Universitätsprofessorin am Lehrstuhl für die Soziologie der Organisation an der Deutschen Hochschule für Verwaltungswissenschaften Speyer.

Inhalt
Section A.- Governance A Political Science Perspective.- Governance A Legal Perspective.- Governance A Sociological Perspective.- Governance An Integrated Theory.- Section B.- On the Way towards New Public Management? The Governance of University Systems in England, the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany.- Governance Modes in University Reform in Germany From the Perspective of Law.- The Application of the Concept of Governance to the Structures of German Extra-University Research Organizations from a Legal Perspective.- Analysis of Heterogeneous Collaboration in the German Research System with a Focus on Nanotechnology.- Governance Reforms and Scientific Production Evidence from German Astrophysics.