Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Vision and Mission Statements in Italian Universities: Results of an Empirical Investigation on Strategic Orientation

  • Published:
Journal of the Knowledge Economy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper explores the strategic orientation of Italian universities with a special focus on their vision and mission statements. It has been possible to collect data for 89 universities, by means of a survey sent by e-mail to all 95 Italian universities and by visiting all their websites. Based on the international literature, a number of variables have been identified for the analysis: main missions (education, research and third mission), internationalization, role of the host territory, competitive and cooperative categories. The data collected through the survey (23 answers) allowed a further investigation into their views regarding strengths and weaknesses of the Italian higher education system, their strategic planning process, the role of internal actors and external stakeholders. Results are mixed and show that one sub-group of Italian universities is very pro-active and innovative in its strategic planning; another sub-group interprets strategic planning as nothing more than a legal compliance.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altbach, P. G. (2011). Present and future of the research university. In P. G. Altbach & J. Salmi (Eds.), The road to academic excellence: the making of world-class research universities. Washington: The World Bank.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Ashburner, L., Fitzgerald, L., & Pettigrew, A. M. (1996). The new public management in action. Oxford: Oxford university press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartkus, B., Glassman, M., & McAfee, B. (2006). Mission statement quality and financial performance. European Management Journal, 24(1), 86–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bentivoglio, C. A., D’Antini, G., Gison, G., & Giusepponi, K. (2014). Data warehouse, reporting and stakeholder engagement. Achievements of the University of Macerata. Journal of e-Learning and Knowledge Society, 10(2), 77–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bingham, F. G., Quigley, C. J., & Murray, K. B. (2001). A response to beyond the mission statement: alternative futures for today’s universities. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 11(4), 19–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camelia, G., & Marius, P. (2013). ‘Mission statements in higher education: context analysis and research propositions’, Annals of the University of Oradea, Economic Science Series, 22(2).

  • Campbell, S. M. (2008). Vision, mission, goals, and program objectives for academic advising programs’. In V. N. Gordon, W. R. Habley, & T. J. Grites (Eds.), Academic advising: a comprehensive handbook (pp. 229–241). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Capano, G. (1998). La politica universitaria. Bologna: Il Mulino.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carruthers, J. K., & Lott, G. B. (1981). Mission review: foundation for strategic planning. Boulder: National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chait, R. (1979). ‘Mission madness strikes our colleges’, Chronicle of Higher Education, 36.

  • Charles, D. (2006). Universities as key knowledge infrastructures in regional innovation systems. Innovation, 19(1), 117–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, B. R. (1998). Creating entrepreneurial universities: organizational pathways of transformation. New York: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connell, I., & Galasinski, D. (1998). Academic mission statements: an exercise in negotiation. Discourse and Society, 9(4), 457–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies, G. K. (1986). The importance of being general: philosophy, politics and institutional mission statements’. In J. C. Smart (Ed.), Higher education: handbook of theory and research. New York: Agathon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, S. W., & Glaister, K. W. (1996). Spurs to higher things? Mission statements of UK universities. Higher Education Quarterly, 50, 261–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies, S. W., & Glaister, K. W. (1997). Business school mission statements the bland leading the bland? Long Range Planning, 30(4), 594–604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Haan, H. (2014). Where is the gap between internationalisation strategic planning and its implementation? A study of 16 Dutch universities’ internationalisation plans. Tertiary Education & Management, 20(2), 135–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Jager, G. (2011). Missions on the move: university systems in England, New York State and California. Higher Education Management & Policy, 23(1), 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deiaco, E., Holmén, M., & McKelvey, M. (2009). ‘What does it mean conceptually that universities compete?’, in McKelvey, M. & Holmén, M. (Eds.), Learning to compete in European universities: From social institution to knowledge business, Elgar Publishing.

  • Desmidt, S., & Prinzie, A. A. (2008). ‘The impact of mission statements: an empirical analysis from a sensemaking perspective’. Academy Of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings, 1–6.

  • Desmidt, S., & Prinzie, A. (2009). ‘The effectiveness of mission statements: an explorative analysis from a communication perspective’, Academy Of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings, 1–6.

  • EACEA. (2012). The European Higher Education Area in 2012: Bologna Process Implementation Report. Brussels: Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Etzkowitz, H., & Leydesdorff, L. (2000). The dynamics of innovation: from national systems and ‘mode 2’ to a triple helix of university-industry-government relations. Research Policy, 29(2), 109–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrer-Balas, D., Adachi, J., Banas, S., Davidson, C. I., Hoshikoshi, A., Mishra, A., Motodoa, Y., Onga, M., & Ostwald, M. (2008). An international comparative analysis of sustainability transformation across seven universities. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 9(3), 295–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finley, D. S., Rogers, G., & Galloway, J. R. (2001). Beyond the mission statement: alternative futures for today’s universities. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 10(4), 63–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fugazzotto, S. (2009). Mission statements, physical space, and strategy in higher education. Innovative Higher Education, 34(5), 285–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, A. (1994). The new production of knowledge: the dynamics of science and research in contemporary societies. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gornitzka, A., & Maassen, P. (2000). Hybrid steering approaches with respect to European higher education. Higher Education Policy, 13(3), 267–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grupe, F. H. (1983). Competition and cooperation in american higher education. Journal of Higher Education, 54(3), 348–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, M. (2002). A call to purpose: mission-centered change at three liberal arts colleges. New York: RoutledgeFalmer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmberg, J., & Samuelsson, B. (Eds.). (2006). Drivers and barriers for implementing sustainable development in higher education. Paris: Unesco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hood, C. (1995). The “New Public Management” in the 1980s: variations on a theme. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 20(2), 93–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huisman, J. (Ed.). (2009). International perspectives on the governance of higher education. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, H., & Huisman, J. (2009). Missions statements in Wales: the impact of markets and policy on congruence between institutions. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 31(1), 23–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight, J. (2013). Three generations of crossborder higher education: new developments, issues and challenges. Oxford Studies in Comparative Education, 23(2), 43–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kosmützky, A. (2012). Between mission and market position: empirical findings on mission statements of German higher education institutions. Tertiary Education & Management, 18(1), 57–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuenssberg, S. (2011). The discourse of self-presentation in Scottish university mission statements. Quality in Higher Education, 17(3), 279–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laredo, P. (2007). Revisiting the third mission of universities: toward a renewed categorization of university activities? Higher Education Policy, 20(4), 441–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laursen, K., & Salter, A. (2004). “Searching high and low: what types of firms use universities as a source of innovation?”, October 1201–1215.

  • Lazzeretti, L., & Tavoletti, E. (2005). Higher education excellence and local economic development: the case of the entrepreneurial University of Twente. European Planning Studies, 13(3), 475–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lazzeretti, L., & Tavoletti, E. (2006). Governance shifts in higher education: a cross-national comparison. European Educational Research Journal, 5(1), 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maassen, P. (2000). Higher education and the stakeholder society. European Journal of Education, 35(4), 377–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marginson, S. (2006). Dynamics of national and global competition in higher education. Higher Education, 52(1), 1–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, W. B. (1985). Mission: a statement of identity and direction’. In J. S. Green & A. Levine (Eds.), Opportunity in adversity. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mause, K. (2009). Too much competition in higher education? Some conceptual remarks on the excessive-signaling hypothesis. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 68(5), 1107–1133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKelvie, B. D. (1986). The university’s statement of goals: an idea whose time has come. Higher Education, 15, 151–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mintzberg, H. (1978). Patterns in strategy formation. Management Science, 24(9), 934–948.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montesinos, P., Carot, J., Martinez, J., & Mora, F. (2008). Third mission ranking for world class universities: beyond teaching and research. Higher Education in Europe, 33(2/3), 259–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morphew, C. C., & Hartley, M. (2006). Mission statements: a thematic analysis of rhetoric across institutional type. Journal of Higher Education, 77(3), 456–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukerjee, S. (2014). Agility: a crucial capability for universities in times of disruptive change and innovation. Australian Universities Review, 56(1), 56–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neave, G. (2002). ‘The stakeholder perspective historically explored’, in Enders J. And F. Oliver (2002), Higher education in a globalising world. International trends and mutual observations, Kluwer academic publishers (NL).

  • Neave, G., & van Vught, F. A. (1991). Prometheus bound; the changing relationship between government and higher education in Western Europe. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neave, G., Huisman, J., & Maassen, P. (Eds.). (2000). Higher education and the nation state. Oxford: Elsevier Pergamon for IAU.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newsom, W. A., & Hayes, C. R. (1991). ‘Are mission statements worthwhile?’, Planning for Higher Education, 19.

  • Nowotny, H., Scott, P., & Gibbons, M. (2001). Re-thinking science. knowledge and the public in an age of uncertainty. Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD. (2014). Education at a Glance. Paris: OECD Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ortega y Gassett, J. (1944). Mission of the university. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Özdem, G. (2011). An analysis of the mission and vision statements on the strategic plans of higher education institutions. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 11(4), 1887–1894.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paradeise, C., Reale, E., Bleiklie, I., & Ferlie, E. (Eds.). (2009). University Governance. Western European comparative perspectives. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossi, F. (2009). Increased competition and diversity in higher education: an empirical analysis of the italian university system. Higher Education Policy, 22(4), 389–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiller, D., & Diez, J. (2012). The impact of academic mobility on the creation of localized intangible assets. Regional Studies, 46(10), 1319–1332.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, J. C. (2006). The mission of the university: medieval to postmodern transformations. Journal of Higher Education, 77(1), 1–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sidhu, J. (2003). Mission statements: is it time to shelve them? European Management Journal, 21(4), 439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solé-Parellada, F., Coll-Bertran, J., & Navarro-Hernández, T. (2001). University design and development. Higher Education in Europe, 26(3), 341–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tavoletti, E. (2004). Higher education and high intellectual unemployment: does education matter? An interpretation and some critical perspectives’. In P. Cooke & A. Piccaluga (Eds.), Regional economies as knowledge laboratories (pp. 20–37). U.K.: Elgar Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tavoletti, E. (2007). Assessing the regional economic impact of higher education institutions: an application to the University of Cardiff. Transition Studies Review, 14(3), 505–521.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tavoletti, E. (2009). Higher education and local economic development. Firenze: Firenze University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tavoletti, E. (2010). Matching higher education with the labour market in the knowledge economy: the much-needed reform of university governance in Italy. Industry & Higher Education, 24(5), 361–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vaira, M. (2011). La costruzione della riforma universitaria e dell’autonomia didattica: idee, norme, pratiche, attori. Milano: LED Edizioni Universitarie.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Vught, F. (1989). Governmental strategies and innovation in higher education. London: Jessica Kinsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Vught, F. (2008). Mission diversity and reputation in higher education. Higher Education Policy, 21, 151–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Velcoff, J., & Ferrari, R. (2006). Perceptions of university mission statement by senior administrators: relating to faculty engagement. Christian Higher Education, 5(4), 329–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veugelers, R., & Cassiman, B. (2003). ‘R&D cooperation between firms and universities. Some empirical evidence from Belgian manufacturing’, March, available at: https://lirias.kuleuven.be/bitstream/123456789/118346/1/

  • Vincow, G. (1997). The student-centered research university. Innovative Higher Education, 21(3), 165.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodrow, J. (2006). Institutional mission: the soul of Christian higher education. Christian Higher Education, 5(4), 313–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Macerata, P.Le Luigi Bertelli, 1—C.Da Vallebona, 62100, Macerata, Italy

    Katia Giusepponi

  2. University of Macerata, P.zza Strambi, n. 1, 62100, Macerata, Italy

    Ernesto Tavoletti

Authors
  1. Katia Giusepponi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ernesto Tavoletti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ernesto Tavoletti.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Appendix 1

Appendix 1

figure a

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Giusepponi, K., Tavoletti, E. Vision and Mission Statements in Italian Universities: Results of an Empirical Investigation on Strategic Orientation. J Knowl Econ 9, 301–328 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-015-0343-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-015-0343-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation