Abstract
The Humboldtian educational ideal is based on the idea of the unity of teaching and research in universities (Einheit von Forschung und Lehre). The role of the state, according to Humboldt, was to fund universities in such a way that their autonomy was maintained. Much has changed in the funding mechanisms of higher education systems since the time of Humboldt, and here we consider developments within France, Germany, Ireland and Norway. Recent governance and funding reforms of higher education in Europe share the Humboldtian goal of promoting the ‘very best education’ through reconfigured relationships between the state and universities. However, most reforms which have taken place (and possibly those that are about to take place, as in the case of Ireland) have developed different external mechanisms to improve quality in teaching and research. The separation of funding for teaching and research has been a predominant approach which challenges the idea of unity of teaching and research, a key element of the Humboldtian model.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adnot, P., Dupont, J.-L., Gaudin, C., Lagauche, S., Longuet, G. and Richert, P. (réd.) (2008) Rapport d’information sur la réforme de l’allocation des moyens par l’Etat aux universités, Sénat; n° 382 Les rapports du Sénat, Paris: Sénat.
Brandser, G.C. (2006) ‘Humboldt revisited. The institutional drama of academic identity’, Ph.D. dissertation, Department of Administration and Organization Theory, University of Bergen.
Caillé, A. and Chanial, P. (2009) ‘Présentation’, Revue du Mauss 33: 5–30.
Caillé, A. and Vatin, F. (2009) ‘Onze modestes propositions de réformes de l’université’, Revue du Mauss 33: 423–440.
Charle, C. (1994) La république des universitaires: 1870–1940, Paris: Seuil.
Clancy, P. (2007) ‘Resisting the Evaluative State: Irish Academics Win the Battle but Lose the War’, in J. Enders and F. van Vught (eds.) Towards a Cartography of Higher Education Policy Change: A Festschrift in Honour of Guy Neave, Enschede: CHEPS.
Coate, K. and Mac Labhrainn, I. (2009) ‘Irish Higher Education and the Knowledge Economy’, in J. Huisman (ed.) International Perspectives on the Governance of Higher Education: Alternative Frameworks for Coordination, New York: Routledge.
Collet, J.P. (1999) Historien om Universitetet i Oslo, Oslo: Universitetsforlaget.
Dobbins, M. and Knill, C. (2009) ‘Higher education policies in Central and Eastern Europe: convergence toward a common model?’, Governance 22 (3): 397–430.
Frølich, N. (2005) ‘Implementation of new public management in Norwegian universities’, European Journal of Education 40 (2): 223–234.
Frølich, N. (2010) ‘Multi-layered accountability. Performance funding of universities’, Public Administration 24 (1): 7–21.
Frølich, N., Schmidt, E.K. and Rosa, M.J. (2010) ‘Funding systems for higher education and their impacts on institutional strategies and academia: a comparative perspective’, International Journal of Education Management (forthcoming).
Hartmann, M. (2006) ‘Die Exzellenzinitiative — ein Paradigmenwechsel in der deutschen Hochschulpolitik’, Leviathan 34 (4): 447–465.
Humboldt, W. von (1793, 1860) ‘Theorie der Bildung des Menschen. Bruchstück’, in W. von Humboldt (ed.) Schriften zur Antropologie und Geschichte, Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft.
Humboldt, W. von (1850) On the Limits of State Action, E. Trewendt.
Humboldt, W. von (1964, 1810) ‘Über die innere und aussere Organisation der höheren wissenschaftlichen Anstalten in Berlin’, in W. von Humboldt (ed.) Bildung des Menschen in Schule und Universität, Heidelberg: Quelle & Meyer Verlag.
Lydon, J. (1991) ‘The Silent Sister: Trinity College and Catholic Ireland’, in C.H. Holland (ed.) Trinity College Dublin and the Idea of a University, Dublin: Trinity College Dublin Press.
McCarthy, C. (2009) Report of Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, Dublin: Government Publications.
Musselin, C. (2004) The Long March of French Universities, New York, London: Routledge Falmer.
Musselin, C. (2005) ‘Change and Continuity in Higher Education Governance? Lessons Drawn from Twenty Years of National Reforms in European Countries’, in I. Bleiklie and M. Henkel (eds.) Governing Knowledge: A Study of Continuity and Change in Higher Education: A Festschrift in Honour of Maurice Kogan, Dordrecht: Springer, pp. 65–80.
Olsen, J. (2007) ‘The Institutional Dynamics of the European University’, in P. Maassen and J.P. Olsen (eds.) University Dynamics and European Integration, Dordrecht: Springer.
Pritchard, R. (2006) ‘Trends in the restructuring of German universities’, Comparative Education Review 50 (1): 90–112.
Schimank, U. (2002) ‘Governance in Hochschulen’, Speech on the occasion of the event Professionelles Wissenschaftsmanagement als Aufgabe organized by the Zentrums für Wissenschaftsmanagement; 22 October 2002; Wissenschaftszentrum, Bonn.
Stengel, D. (2009) Botany teaching in Irish and German Higher Education Institutions: Historical aspects and an assessment of recent responses to the Bologna Process. Unpublished MA Thesis: National University of Ireland, Galway.
Weisz, G. (1983) The Emergence of Modern Universities in France: 1863–1914, Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Welsh, H. (2004) ‘Higher education in Germany: reform in incremental steps’, European Journal of Education 39 (3): 359–375.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Frølich, N., Coate, K., Mignot-Gerard, S. et al. Einheit von Forschung und Lehre: Implications for State Funding of Universities. High Educ Policy 23, 195–211 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1057/hep.2010.2
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/hep.2010.2