The OECD Thematic Review of Tertiary Education

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The OECD Thematic Review of Tertiary Education
Final Conference Tertiary Education for the
Knowledge Society
Theme D Enhancing the role of tertiary education
in research and innovation

• Presentation by Ester Basri, Directorate for
  Education, OECD
• Day 1 16.15 room B202

OECD Thematic Review of Tertiary
EducationTertiary Education for the Knowledge
Society, Lisbon, 3-4 April 2008
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OECD policy directions

• Knowledge diffusion
• Improve knowledge diffusion rather than focusing
  on commercialisation
• Role of TEIs is to create and diffuse knowledge
  but commercialisation requires secrecy
• Results of success are skewed
• Innovation requires access to knowledge
• Widen channels of interaction
• Improve linkages, particularly with SMEs
• Foster mobility
• Inter-sectoral mobility between TEIs, firms and
  public research institutions
• International mobility (but this is not a
  substitute for domestic supply)

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OECD policy directions

• Developing human resources
• Improve research career prospects
• Career opportunities limited job insecurity,
  salaries, work dissatisfaction etc
• Improve data on human resources
• Demand for the highly skilled increasing
• Mismatches unknown
• Innovation requires a variety of skills
• Vocational training
• Non-technological innovation
• Traditional research careers changing

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OECD policy directions

• Building capabilities
• Maintain adequate research infrastructure
• Basic resources
• Large scientific facilities may require
  collaboration
• Use TEIs to foster the internationalisation of
  RD
• Success in the global economy largely depends on
  national capabilities
• Measures to improve research capabilities will
  increase attractiveness for RD investment

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OECD policy directions

• Enhancing the system (1)
• Improve methods for priority selection
• Lack of systematic approach
• Tends to focus on high-technology rather than
  national technological specialisation
• Need to consider emerging areas, social sciences
  and humanities
• Broaden assessment criteria and monitor impacts
• Some performance measures have had unintended
  impacts on research quality
• Shift towards more project-based funding may also
  have unintended impacts
• Broad range of performance indicators required

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OECD policy directions

• Enhancing the system (2)
• Ensure policy considers long-term perspective
• Knowledge production often involves long
  time-lags between discovery and application.
• Evaluate and co-ordinate policies across the
  whole system
• TEIs integral part of the research and innovation
  system
• Policies need to be coherent and evaluated as
  part of the wider system

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Possible questions for discussion

• What are the major challenges that countries face
  in enhancing the contribution of tertiary
  education in research and innovation, and what
  are the key concerns of the workshop participants
  in relation to research and innovation in TEIs?
• Which policy initiatives do participants find
  particularly effective in responding to the
  challenges of tertiary educations contribution
  to research and innovation?
• What are the major priorities for further action
  at national and international levels?