The Need for Renewal and Renovation

As the 21st century begins, the research sector is undergoing many profound changes associated with global social and economic forces. In the OECD countries, it is widely expected that this will result in a markedly different research landscape over the next 20 years. In this process of change, perceived priorities can be both diverse and numerous, as various lobbies seek to achieve their objectives. Decision-makers – both national and institutional – tend to face many appeals to channel human and financial resources earmarked for higher education elsewhere. However, despite the fierce competition for higher education funding, countries and institutions cannot ignore the need to strengthen their systems and structures of higher education and research. In many countries across all regions, regardless of socio-economic and cultural context, recognition of the need to revive, renew and strengthen higher education systems and structures is manifest. This recognition confirms that higher education should contribute more effectively to meeting both the objectives of development policies and educational and training needs. The current dynamic to renew the higher education sector has created two particular imperatives: a) The need to widen the understanding of, to enhance access to research on systems and structures of higher education, research and knowledge – that is, to follow trends in these areas, and to analyze and advise on aspects of national and institutional policy on the basis of up to date information and research. Both efforts aimed at reinforcing higher education as an academic discipline, and at providing enhanced advisory services to policy-makers should be undertaken. b) The need to collate and make available data and analysis of the research mission in higher education. Through research, the sector has traditionally contributed to the generation and dissemination of advanced knowledge. Research is considered the necessary part of academic higher education. However, due to major changes in knowledge production, research function needs to be analyzed and adjustments considered to ensure its quality. It is thus essential to reaffirm the importance of research development in all countries, industrialized and developing, and to secure wide support and improve conditions for strengthening the development of research.