Theme: Revisiting Adaptation: The Role of Impact, Quality, and Sustainability in Shaping the Future of Universities
Speaker: Dr. Prof. Barbara Sporn, Head of the Institute for Higher Education Management at WU Vienna University of Economics and Business
Time: April, 10 at 13.00-14.30 (Helsinki time)/ 18.00-19.30 (Beijing time)
Abstract:
In the landscape of higher education, the imperative to adapt has never been more pronounced. The presentation will explore the multifaceted dimensions of adaptation within universities, focusing on the roles of impact, quality, and sustainability from both a theoretical and practical perspective. As higher education institutions face unprecedented challenges, from the rapid pace of technological change to global socio-economic shifts and environmental concerns, this presentation delves into how universities can not only respond to these challenges but thrive by reimagining their models.
The presentation will argue that the successful adaptation of the university model hinges on a holistic integration of impact, quality, and sustainability. It will provide insights into how universities can navigate the complexities of the 21st century, ensuring they remain relevant, resilient, and responsive to the needs of society.
Recommended readings:
- DiMaggio, P. J. and W. W. Powell. The Iron Cage Revisited: Institutional Isomorphism and Collective Rationality in Organizational Fields. American Sociological Review 48 (1983): 147-160.
- Weick, K. E. (1976). Educational organizations as loosely coupled systems. Administrative science quarterly, 1-19.
- Pfeffer, J., and Salancik, G.R. (1978). The External Control of Organizations: A Resource Dependence Perspective. New York: Harper and Row.
- Sporn, B., Adaptive University Structures: From Theory to Practice and Back. In João Rosa, M.; Magalhães, A.; Veiga, A.; Teixeira, P. N. (Eds.): Under Pressure – HEIs Coping with Multiple Challenges. Brill Sense Publishers, 2018.
Speaker’s bio:
Barbara Sporn is professor of higher education management and heads the Institute for Higher Education Management at WU Vienna University of Economics and Business. She is involved in teaching undergraduate and graduate students in business. In 2023 IHM hosted the CHER Annual Conference. Professor Sporn served as Vice-Rector for Research, International Affairs and External Relations of WU Vienna University of Economics and Business from 2002 to 2015. The academic year 2018/2019 Professor Sporn spent as Visiting Professor at the Steinhardt Institute for Higher Education Policy (SIHEP), NYU, and SCANCOR (Scandinavian Center for Organization Research), Stanford University. During the academic year 2015/2016 she worked as Visiting Professor at the Department of Business Administration and CHESS (Center for Higher Education and Science Studies) of the University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Dr. Sporn is Director for EFMD Programme Accreditation, Quality Services of EFMD, Brussels. She serves on the different advisory boards of higher education institutions abroad. Her research interests include models of the university, leadership and organization in higher education, university adaptation and change, and the social impact of universities.