The Emergence of Institutional Research in Western Europe. AIR 1986 Annual Forum Paper / Peter A. M. Maassen.

Institutional research in Western Europe was analyzed in the context of the changing relationship between higher education and the central government. Questionnaires concerning institutional research activities were sent to colleges in 16 countries, and usable responses were returned by 48 institutions, almost half of which were located in Denmark, the Netherlands, or the United Kingdom. A lot of institutional research activity was performed, but not in an organized manner. In most cases, the activities supported institutional decision-making or planning, but they were not recognized as a separate institutional function. The main task of the persons performing the activities was different from institutional research. In Western European higher education systems, institutional research is divided not only horizontally among various offices of the institutional administrations, but also vertically among the three broad levels of the higher education systems. Institutional research seems to have emerged in countries with expenditure-driven higher education policies. For countries with demand-led policies, institutional research organizational and structural settings differ the most from those in North America. (SW)

Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.