Convergence and differentiation processes in Swiss higher education: an empirical analysis

Benedetto Lepori, Jeroen Huisman, Marco Seeber

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to contribute to the scholarly debate on differentiation processes in higher education, particularly in binary systems. The article builds on recent developments in institutional theory and organizational ecology regarding the nature of organizational forms, as well as on the mechanisms through which these forms impact on characteristics of individual higher education institutions, and highlight the role of isomorphic pressures and competitive differentiation. The approach emphasizes the relevance of segregation and blending processes between types of institution. An application to the relationship between the two main types in Swiss higher education confirms that these forces largely determine the dynamics of the populations, and that a distinction emerges between core features - which make the distinction between populations - and features for which individual strategies and local conditions are more relevant.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)197-218
Number of pages22
JournalStudies in Higher Education
Volume39
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2014

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Convergence and differentiation processes in Swiss higher education: an empirical analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this