Post-doctoral project
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Excellence and Quality in Western Balkans Higher Education
Antigoni Papadimitriou, PhD*
Quality assurance (QA) is often seen in higher education studies as a policy instrument of governments, and as a management tool with higher education institutions. However, in higher education systems with their professional ‘production technology’ (both when it comes to teaching and to research) quality and excellence are actually ‘made’ by the ‘professionals’ on the work floor, i.e. the academic staff members (Westerheijden, Hulpiau & Waeytens, 2007). Academics’ cooperation in quality improvement to strive for excellence is therefore crucial. Hence, governmental, managerial and collegial features of QA co-exist.
European developments in higher education are seen to have a transformative character in general and during the last 10 years several steps in relation to quality initiatives and excellence have been made within higher education institutions in Western Balkans. However, research and publications regarding quality practices and excellence in higher education is still sparse. Best practices need to travel.
The aim of the post doc project was to identify various institutional initiatives and practices that further can enhance the quality of the higher education sector in the region.
Research questions
- What quality policies and practices could one observe in Western Balkans’ universities? Do differences exist between private and public universities?
- What accreditation procedures do private and public universities follow?
- Are there any differences in perceptions of excellence for the leaders, and quality assurance administrators between private and public universities?
- What are the design criteria and key indicators that will position WBCs’ universities to address future challenges and opportunities?
- Do universities and stakeholders take into consideration data and indicators for policy development and if so, what type of data and indicators are collected for this purpose?
This comparative post doc project applied a multiple, mixed methods research design and used several data-gathering techniques, including document analysis (policy documents, Tempus data etc.), surveys, and interviews with a variety of stakeholders. Concepts from neo-institutional theory along with organizational characteristics, and policymaking processes (design, formulation, implementation, and evaluation) helped us agnized today’s Western Balkans higher education at national and institutional levels.
NORGLOBAL PROJECT PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
Peer Reviewed Articles
Papadimitriou, A., Gornitzka, Å., Stensaker, B., (forthcoming) “Designed diffusion? The impact of an EU capacity building instrument in the Western Balkans”, Journal of European Integration
Papadimitriou, A. (2014) Strategic planning and benchmarking organizational routines of universities in the Western Balkans, The TQM Journal, Vol. 26 Iss: 3, 261 - 274
Book Chapters
Papadimitriou A. and Stensaker B. (2014) Governance capacity of Western Balkans Universities: Perceptions of institutional leadership in The Re-Institutionalization of higher Education in the Western Balkans. Edited by Brankovic et al. HEPR, Peter Lang, pp. 91-120 (published in Serbian as well)
Kanazir, S. Papadimitriou, A, and Stensaker B. (2014) Quality Assurance Agencies in the Western Balkans: Balancing European Standards and Domestic Needs? in The Re-Institutionalization of higher Education in the Western Balkans. Edited by Brankovic et al. HEPR, Peter Lang, pp. 175-198 (published in Serbian as well)
Papadimitriou, A, Brankovic N and Dordevic S. (2014) The regional links of universities in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Croatia and Serbia in The Re-Institutionalization of higher Education in the Western Balkans. Edited by Brankovic et al. HEPR, Peter Lang, pp. 225-250 (published in Serbian as well)
Best Conference Papers
Papadimitriou, A. (2013) Strategic planning and benchmarking perceptions and concerns from public and private Western Balkan Universities, 16th Toulon-Verona Conference, Excellence in Services, August 29-30, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Invited Lectures
Sept. 2013 “Private Higher Education in the Western Balkans”, PROPHE (The Program for research on Private Higher Education), Department of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, University at Albany, State University of New York
Peer Reviewed Conference Presentations
Papadimitriou A. (2015) Understanding Regionalization Efforts within Higher Education Institutions, EUSA (European Union Studies Association) Fourteenth Biennial Conference, March 5-7, Boston, MA
Papadimitriou, A. (2014), Branding in the Western Balkan Higher Education on the incorporation of internationalisation, quality and social media, ASHE conference, 19-22 November, Washington DC
Papadimitriou, A., Kanazir, S., (2014), Quality Assurance Agencies in the Western Balkans: Balancing between European Standards and Domestic Needs? Assessment Institute, IUPUI, October 19-21, Indianapolis, IN
Papadimitriou A., (2014), Mixed Methods Design Facilitates to Empirically Investigate Diffusion Mechanisms, Mixed Methods International Conference, June 27-29, Boston College, Boston, MA
Papadimitriou A., (2014) Public policies for private higher education in the Western Balkans, HEIK seminar, March 4, University of Oslo, Norway
Papadimitriou A., (2014), Capacity building as an EU policy instrument: the case of the Tempus program, European Integration in Higher Education and Research in the Western Balkans, Final Project Conference, Feb. 27, University of Oslo, Norway
Papadimitriou, A. (2013) Unlocking the Black Box: Perceptions and applications on quality management from Western Balkan Universities, ASHE Conference, November 13-16, St. Louis, MO, USA
Papadimitriou A., Stensaker, B. (2013) Capacity building as an EU policy instrument: the case of the Tempus program, 10th International Workshop on Higher Education Reforms, October- 2-4, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Papadimitriou, A. (2013) Strategic planning and benchmarking perceptions and concerns from public and private Western Balkan Universities, 16th Toulon-Verona Conference, Excellence in Services, August 29-30, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Papadimitriou, A. Stensaker B. (2013) Excellence and Quality in Western Balkan Universities, CIES Conference, March 10-15, New Orleans, LA, USA
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* Antigoni Papadimitriou was a post-doc fellow University of Oslo, Department of Educational Research. She completed her PhD at the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS), University of Twente, in the Netherlands. Her primary field of interest is the study of higher education governance and organization, specifically focusing on quality, leadership, and organizational change. Her interests also center on the study of higher education policies (development, implementation, and evaluation). Her focus extends to quality assurance, internationalization, and comparative issues in higher education. In May 2011, she was elected as a member-at-large of the Council of International Higher Education in Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE). She also is a member of CIES Higher Education Sig (HESIG) Awards Committee. Currently is an Assistant Professor of Management and Leadership and Program Director at Hellenic College, Boston USA.