Balancing accountability and trust: university reforms in the Nordic countries

Abstract

This paper investigates the accountability mechanisms introduced in the universities in the Nordic countries by building on a typology of accountability types. By utilizing survey data, it analyses how academics experience the changes in accountability mechanisms, and how they perceive the impact of these changes on their performance. The analysis shows that especially political/bureaucratic and managerial accountability demands have been strengthened. This development has fostered debates on how to measure academic performance. Some academics, more in Denmark than in the other countries, have experienced the development as a sign of mistrust.

Revisiting the five problems of public sector organisations and reputation management—the perspective of higher education practitioners and ex-academics

“…Thus, the results of the study should be applicable to other Nordic countries with similar public higher education systems (see e.g. Hansen et al 2019). As regards future studies, it would be valuable to evaluate the outcomes of universities' profiling activities in terms of reputation management, because it is too early to do so yet.…”

Strategy as Dialogue and Engagement

“…It is difficult to define the extent to which the strategies enacted in recent years have affected performance in the realms of teaching and research. That said, the so-called strategic turn seems to be associated (goes hand in hand) with a new culture of performativity and accountability (Hansen et al 2019). However, it is reasonable to conclude that behaviour changes as internal actors (at different levels) align their activities and strategic aspirations with key thematic (strategic) areas to secure additional resources, both people and funding.…”

Governing Performance in the Nordic Universities: Where Are We Heading and What Have We Learned?

“…It is difficult to assess how strategies have affected performance in teaching and research. That said, the so-called strategic turn seems to be associated with a new culture of performativity and accountability (Hansen et al 2019). Our data show that assistant professors and lecturers are least influential in decision-making processes for institutional strategies.…”

“…As public organizations dependent on the support of several stakeholders (Benneworth and Jongbloed 2010), universities in the Nordic countries meet with a number of accountability requests. In recent decades, a number of reforms have been implemented in order to increase the accountability of universities (Hazelkorn et al 2018;Hansen et al 2019). Professional accountability is important in relation to the quality of educational programmes and particularly the quality of research.…”