Sijbolt noorda

Social Innovation: the impact of Higher Education,

how can it be measured and monitored?

Montréal 2015Sijbolt Noorda

President Magna Charta Observatory

Montréal IAU1May 7-8, 2015

• The Magna Charta Observatory of Fundamental University Values and Rights is a non-profit organisation based on the Magna Charta declaration of 1988, founded by the University of Bologna and the Council of European rectors, now associated with EUA and IAU

• from its beginnings it wished to become a worldwide program and project


776 signatories from 81 countries


‘ The university is an autonomous institution at the heart of societies differently organized becauseof geography and historical heritage; it produces, examines, appraises and hands down culture by research and teaching. To meet the needs of the world around it, its research and teaching must be morally and intellectually independent of all political authority and economic power.’

[from Magna Charta Universitatum]


what shall we do in this workshop?• we’ll talk and think about the impact of HEIs on

social innovation• and the ways in which this is being measured

and monitored• at both ends of the line, in society as well as in

HEIs• higher education not as end in itself, but rather as

part of a chain of experiences and developments in society

May 7-8, 2015Montréal IAU5

function public / private good benefits

value purpose impact assessment markets effect relevance

use significance mission accountability

trust usefulness performance quality






what’s the concept?• impact has become a popular concept to express the

value of higher education and research for its users.

• It is not a new concept. Although the term “impact” is a relative newcomer to Higher Education policy speak, the realities it refers to are perennial. Terminology may vary (value, purpose, effect, relevance) the issue is a constant.

• And rightly so. Universities are no l’art pour l’art workshops and they never were meant to be. Even at times when they served society through elites.


what’s new?• the novelty is not in the issue but in the realities and

attitudes• responsive universities (or rather: any HEI) must

constantly read their map and re-position themselves to optimize their value

• yet, ‘value creation’ cannot be a one-way-street; the product of HE is way too complicated for just a delivery mode

• so society – businesses as well as not-for-profits, government as well as students – should get involved rather than just receive (in the customer mode)


current focus

• In the case of social innovation higher education’s impact happens along a broad variety of lines and programs

• via teaching & learning as well as research & valorisation

• by way of attitudes & culture as well as concrete projects & solutions


the challenge of measuring and monitoring

• To know what we’re doing and what works and what doesn’t we must monitor impact and be accountable

• How to do justice to it in qualitative terms as well as in quantitative terms?


if not quantifiable it doesn’t count

• admissions & recruitments• ranking lists & reputation scores• performance indicators• bibliometrics, including impact scores • financial figures• awards & grants• patents & licenses, et cetera


the qualitative value of multiple virtues

• public trust reliable, civil, undisguised [overall impression]

• student satisfaction inspiring, competent, well-suited [educational experience]

• partner confidence sustainable, dedicated, efficient [academic and business performance]


impact? not uncomplicated• what a university must do to make a strong

impression on its users, partners, regulators and/or funders is not a single and simple issue

• but rather a mix of accountability, market performance and trust generation by a broad variety of activities and qualities, involving many actors and institutes, requiring shared values and common attitudes & professional achievements all over the place


what is going on in society that (re-)defines the role of HEIs?

• growing complexities & social dynamics• trust crisis & quest for integrity, transparency, openness and accountability

• grand challenges requiring new ways of multidisciplinary thinking

• globalization, culture blending & parochialism

• increasing competition & volatility• et cetera


what shall we do in this workshop?• we’ll talk and think about the impact of HEIs on

social innovation• and the ways in which this is being measured

and monitored• at both ends of the line, in society as well as in

HEIs• higher education not as end in itself, but rather as

part of a chain of experiences and developments in society
