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Competitive positioning of German Universities: Deliberate Decision, Fate, or Fiction?

Author

Listed:
  • Uwe Cantner

    (Friedrich Schiller University of Jena)

  • Nils Grashof

    (Friedrich Schiller University of Jena)

  • Thomas Grebel

    (Ilmenau University of Technology)

  • Anna Kosmützky

    (Leibniz University Hannover, Leibniz Center for Science and Society (LCSS))

  • Georg Krücken

    (International Center for Higher Education Research (INCHER))

  • Xijie Zhang

    (Ilmenau University of Technology)

Abstract

With the increasing autonomy, the competitive pressure on German universities is rising. More freedom comes along with a higher obligation to position oneself in the (German) tertiary education and research market. We investigate to what extent a (competitive) positioning of German universities can be detected and how their positioning changes over time. Using non-parametric productivity estimation, we analyze 79 Germany universities based on information about the German University Statistics (Hochschulstatistik) provided by the German statistical office (Statistisches Bundesamt). Our (preliminary) results show that a clear positioning according to productivity statistics remains vague. The resulting competitive dynamics remains low, whereas the Excellence Initiative only induced an anticipation effect in the competitive dynamics. Overall, the scope of (most) universities for a competitive repositioning seems to be low.

Suggested Citation

  • Uwe Cantner & Nils Grashof & Thomas Grebel & Anna Kosmützky & Georg Krücken & Xijie Zhang, 2023. "Competitive positioning of German Universities: Deliberate Decision, Fate, or Fiction?," Jena Economics Research Papers 2023-012, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    • Handle: RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2023-012
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Keywords

    Competition; German Universities; Efficiency; Positioning; DEA;
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