A. Kosmützky & F. Meier introduce a conceptual framework for analyzing competition in higher education, with a focus on competing as action.

The framework the authors introduce provides a valuable tool for exploring the complexity and multiplicity of competition in higher education and beyond.

Drawing on Georg Simmel's sociological insights and behavioral decision theory, the framework captures key elements of competition. It distinguishes between observing and four forms of courting: performing, strategic informing, influencing valuation criteria, and attracting attention. To demonstrate its potential, the paper applies the framework to the German higher education system, particularly focusing on universities’ competition for third-party funding.
This conceptual approach opens up avenues for comparative investigations of various forms of competition, enabling an analysis of both similarities and differences in the competitive actions of different actors within higher education, as well as across systems.

Kosmützky, A., & Meier, F. (2025). Competing: an analytical framework and application in higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2025.2455425