Reflection of higher education aspects in the conception of national competitiveness
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize higher education (HE) elements as expressed in competitiveness literature and provide a comprehensive list of HE aspects found in the conception of competitiveness. In order to achieve this goal, the most acknowledged conceptions, including definitions and measurements, of competitiveness are overviewed and HE components reflected in them are depicted.
Design/methodology/approach
In order to achieve the article goal, the most acknowledged conceptions, including definitions and measurements, of competitiveness are overviewed and HE components reflected in them are depicted.
Findings
The reviewed measurements of competitiveness have provided a comprehensive list of HE elements. After reviewing a combination of literature on national competitiveness, it is stated that the following HE elements appear in the conception of national competitiveness – preparation for the HE (as reflected in quantity and quality of secondary education), tertiary education quantity and quality, funding of HE system, quality of scientific research institutions and links of the HE system with the labor and business sectors.
Practical implications
The article has a practical value for HE policy makers since it detects key HE factors that are included in the most acknowledged competitiveness measurements which means that these factors have been identified to be the most influential for the growth of a country's prosperity. It is important for HE reformers to understand the underlying dynamics of the competitiveness process and factors that drive it so that they can contribute in the most effective ways.
Originality/value
The article provides a comprehensive list of HE aspects found in competitiveness definitions and measurements. This can be useful for researchers in comparative HE research field. They are constantly seeking for common grounds of comparison of HE systems. The article provides the list of HE characteristics that can serve as basis of comparison. It is a complicated task to study similarities and differences between HE systems because it is difficult to find a joining point. In the article, this joining point has become national competitiveness. Thus, the article contributes to the quest for adequate theoretical approaches for HE system analysis, putting forward a list tailored to the study of HE systems in the context of national competitiveness.
Keywords
Citation
Ramoniene, L. and Lanskoronskis, M. (2011), "Reflection of higher education aspects in the conception of national competitiveness", Baltic Journal of Management, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 124-139. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465261111100932
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited