Subjects in competition: Disciplinarity in international comparison

Dr. Frank Meier (University of Bremen)

Prof. Dr. Uwe Schimank (University of Bremen)

Andreas Roess (University of Bremen)

The project is based on the central idea that subjects differ in the extent to which epistemic and organisational characteristics of research make it easier or more difficult for academics to make relevant contributions to research-related organisational competition at universities. Ceteris paribus, this results in an intra-organisational advantage for subjects with a better fit. Since competition between universities differs markedly between different higher education systems, subject-specific fit ratios should also vary and be based on factors dependent on specific organisational competition. The aim of the project is to work out these factors in a systematic country comparison as well as to analyse the resulting dynamics and conflicts in the universities and also in the higher education system. In a qualitative research design, comparative country studies for the UK, the Netherlands and Austria will be carried out and combined with the findings gained in the first phase on the German case.