WHY SOCRATES SHOULD BE IN THE BOARDROOM IN RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES

Abstract: 

There is an extensive literature on the productivity of universities. Little is known, however, about how different types of leaders affect a university’s performance. To address this question, this paper blends quantitative and qualitative evidence. First, I establish that the best universities in the world are led by respected scholars. Next, by constructing a new longitudinal dataset, I show that the research quality of a university improves some years after it appoints a president (or vice chancellor) who is an accomplished researcher. To try to explain why scholar-leaders might improve the research performance of their institutions, I draw from interview data with twenty-six university heads in the United States and United Kingdom. These findings have policy implications for governments, universities, and a range of research and knowledge-intensive organizations.

Author: 
Amanda H. Goodall
Publication date: 
February 1, 2010
Publication type: 
Research and Occasional Papers Series (ROPS)
Citation: 
WHY SOCRATES SHOULD BE IN THE BOARDROOM IN RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES by Amanda H. Goodall. CSHE.3.10 (February 2010)