Thoughts on Strategic Staff Development at an

Entrepreneurial University

Jon File, CHEPSDubrovnik, March 2005

Some Key CharacteristicsSome Key Characteristics

• Founded 1961; one of younger NL Univs.Founded 1961; one of younger NL Univs.

• Regional mission: demise textile industryRegional mission: demise textile industry

• Started as Technical Univ. but broadenedStarted as Technical Univ. but broadened

• Remained small and “in the East”Remained small and “in the East”

• To fight vulnerability: try to become much To fight vulnerability: try to become much

more independent from governmentmore independent from government

Mission Mission

• education education – outstanding qualityoutstanding quality

• research research – international level international level – spearheadsspearheads

• environmentenvironment– economic and economic and

social developmentsocial development

• networksnetworks

– public and private public and private partnerspartners

• campus campus – academic cultureacademic culture

• design-oriented design-oriented approachapproach– education and education and

researchresearch

The Integrated The Integrated Entrepreneurial CultureEntrepreneurial Culture

Academic Entrepreneurs?Academic Entrepreneurs?• Education: minor & mEducation: minor & major, digital learning ajor, digital learning

environmentenvironment

• Research: external orientationResearch: external orientation, >350 spin-off , >350 spin-off companiescompanies

• Students: independence (Student Union) & Students: independence (Student Union) & entrepreneurs (USE); >100 student entrepreneurs (USE); >100 student businessesbusinesses

• Internal organisation: relatively independent Internal organisation: relatively independent base units; decentralisation; base units; decentralisation; stimulation fundsstimulation funds

Excellent Quality in EducationExcellent Quality in Education

• University of Twente: the best technical University of Twente: the best technical university in the Netherlandsuniversity in the Netherlands

But we have no Strategic Staff

Development Policies!

HRM-policyHRM-policy

• Stimulate competence developmentStimulate competence development• Attractive and responsible employerAttractive and responsible employer• Opportunities for talentOpportunities for talent• Secure and healthy surroundingsSecure and healthy surroundings

• (Implementation of reorganisation UT)(Implementation of reorganisation UT)

New HR-policiesNew HR-policies

Linked to education and researchLinked to education and research

Related to strategy UTRelated to strategy UT

• New recruitment and selection strategyNew recruitment and selection strategy

• Career developmentCareer development

• Management developmentManagement development

• Improve staff appraisalsImprove staff appraisals

• Flexible employment conditions/rewardsFlexible employment conditions/rewards

ITBE

ITBE

Information Technology Library Educational Technology

• 19 employees• Educational support (curriculum

development)• Training• ICT in education• Quality management

• 12 employees (staff)

• 42 employees• Scientific information• Library

• 81 employees• PC management• User support• Telco & systems• Information provision• Automation

ITBE is the University of Twente Service Department for Information Technology, Library & Education

ITBE

The incentive mechanism for teaching development consists of performance indicators & appraisals, Chair plan and “UFO”

INCENTIVE SCHEMES

Incentive mechanism for teaching developmentIncentive mechanism for teaching development

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Performance indicatorsPerformance indicators Performance appraisalPerformance appraisal Chair planChair plan Job description system (“UFO”)

Job description system (“UFO”)

The university is subject to a planning & control cycle

The university is subject to a planning & control cycle

Key part of this cycle are bi-annual meetings between executive board and heads of departments (faculty deans, scientific directors, directors)

Key part of this cycle are bi-annual meetings between executive board and heads of departments (faculty deans, scientific directors, directors)

Support staff (DUB) prepares speaking notes for these meetings

Support staff (DUB) prepares speaking notes for these meetings

Performance indicators (research, education – information on general progress of student population) are always integral part of speaking notes

Performance indicators (research, education – information on general progress of student population) are always integral part of speaking notes

Once a year, the director or faculty dean has a performance appraisal with his direct reports

Once a year, the director or faculty dean has a performance appraisal with his direct reports

Appraisals cover: performance in previous period, goals for future period and conditions for performance. Prospective career development and decision on required training are included

Appraisals cover: performance in previous period, goals for future period and conditions for performance. Prospective career development and decision on required training are included

The dean draws up a chair plan in co-operation with the scientific directors involved

The dean draws up a chair plan in co-operation with the scientific directors involved

The plan includes: the fields the chair covers based on educational programmes and research orientation of the academic staff

The plan includes: the fields the chair covers based on educational programmes and research orientation of the academic staff

The university has created the possibility to become full professor on the basis of non-research requirements (e.g. education)

The university has created the possibility to become full professor on the basis of non-research requirements (e.g. education)

The universities in the Netherlands have agreed upon harmonised categorisation of job descriptions

The universities in the Netherlands have agreed upon harmonised categorisation of job descriptions

These job descriptions are based on a ‘ladder’ system. To climb this ladder, certain conditions have to be met

These job descriptions are based on a ‘ladder’ system. To climb this ladder, certain conditions have to be met

Educational requirements are part of the conditions for academic staff

Educational requirements are part of the conditions for academic staff

NATIONAL

INSTITUTIONAL

BASE UNITS

Levels of authority

USA UK

Differences across systems

CE

A new convergence?

Center for Higher Education Policy StudiesUniversity of Twente, The Netherlands

CHEPS interdisciplinary research centre (1984)

EconomicsFinance

GovernanceManagement

Quality ComparativeHE Studies

M & D EducationProjectsShort CoursesConsultancy

StrongInternationalResearch & ProjectNetwork

Major Research areas

CHEPS AND EUROPE: 2000 - 2004

Cheps staff originate

Cheps has PhD candidatesor graduates

Cheps has research orconsultancy projects

Countries where:

CHEPS BEYOND EUROPE: 2000 - 2004CHEPS BEYOND

EUROPE:2000 - 2004

Cheps staff originate

Cheps has PhD candidatesor graduates

Cheps has research orconsultancy projects

Countries where:

One of our ‘Real time’ conclusions One of our ‘Real time’ conclusions

• ““We are unconvinced abut the existence We are unconvinced abut the existence of really workable ‘global’ management of really workable ‘global’ management models, but we are convinced that models, but we are convinced that effective and modern HE leadership and effective and modern HE leadership and management approaches will be management approaches will be developed out of regional and national developed out of regional and national traditions and experiences”traditions and experiences”

Jon File and Leo Goedegebuure, 2003 Jon File and Leo Goedegebuure, 2003