Relating universities' research performance and cities' cultural capital in global university rankings

Relating universities’ research performance and cities’ cultural capital in global university rankings

Nicolás Robinson-García, Clara Calero-Medina & Thed N. van Leeuwen

THE 18TH NORDIC WORKSHOP ON BIBLIOMETRICS AND RESEARCH POLICY

OCTOBER 28-29, KTH ROYAL SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, STOCKHOLM

EC3 Research Group

University of Granada

Spain

CWTS

Leiden University

The Netherlands

Background

Background Problems when using bibliometric indicators

1. More papers and more citations do not

necessarily translate to wealth

2. Input and context are important

Background

Input Output

Unidirectional model

Investment → Results

Research → Innovation

Triple Helix Model

University

State Market

Background

University

State Market

Innovation Knowledge

Infra-structure

Political Economy Leydesdorff (2010)

Background

Research question

Bordons et al., 2010

1. Industry indicators a. Regional GDP

b. % Industry investment in R&D

c. % Regional manpower

2. Teaching indicators a. Academic staff

b. PhD staff

c. Students

3. Structural indicators a. University type

b. University age

4. Bibliometric /research indicators

Input

Output

Context

Research question






b. PhD staff

c. Students


b. University age


Input

Output

Context

Research question






b. PhD staff

c. Students


b. University age


Input

Output

Context

Research question






b. PhD staff

c. Students


b. University age


Input

Output

Context

Research question


Hypothesis

Hypothesis It is in fact impossible to account for the structure and

functioning of the social world unless one reintroduces

capital in all its forms and not solely in the one form

recognized by economic theory. Economy theory […]

defines as disinterested those forms of exchange which

ensure the transsubstantiation whereby the most

material types of capital – those which are economic in

the restricted sense – can present themselves in the

immaterial form of cultural capital or social capital

and vice versa.

Pierre Bourdieu, 1986

Hypothesis Forms of cultural capital

Embodied. Intrinsic in the mind and body

Objectified. Books, pictures, museums,

monuments …

Institutionalized. Educational qualifications …

Hypothesis

Where do we find cultural

capital?

Hypothesis The image of cities

1 • Urban attractiveness

2 • Transport infrastructure

3 • Historical heritage

4 • Environment

5 • Social problems

6 • Culture

7 • Innovation & business culture

8 • Economy and commerce

9 • Services

10 • Education - University

11 • International projection

12 • Self-perception

Luque-Martínez et al. (2007)

Hypothesis The Creative Class

• It contributes to innovative production

• It grows from weak links in social

networks (heterogeneity)

• It is based on the principle that cities

most not only attract firms but also people

• Larger regions attract and retain the

creative class

Hypothesis The school should pay attention primarily to those

strengths in which it possesses a differential advantage,

that is, it can outperform competitors on that

dimension.

For example, Georgetown University not only has an

excellent international studies program, but its location

in Washington, D.C., gives it a differential advantage in

pursuing preeminence in this area of study.

Kotler & Murphy, 1981

Hypothesis

How can we measure the

cultural capital of cities ?

Hypothesis Which variables do we think are important for the analysis?

• Population of the city

• Specific variables that could help to understand the position of

the university in the city

– % of students of the population

– Number of campus of the university and their location in the city

• Culturally relevant variables :

– Number of museums

– Number of libraries

– Number of concert halls

– Number of theaters and movie theaters

– Number of parks

– ….

Research question

Relating universities’ research performance and cities’ cultural capital in global university rankings

Nicolás Robinson-García, Clara Calero-Medina & Thed N. van Leeuwen

THE 18TH NORDIC WORKSHOP ON BIBLIOMETRICS AND RESEARCH POLICY

OCTOBER 28-29, KTH ROYAL SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, STOCKHOLM

EC3 Research Group

University of Granada

Spain

CWTS

Leiden University

The Netherlands

Hypothesis Approach 1. Analysis of the relation between cities’

size and universities’ research performance

Approach 1. Evidences

Bettencourt & West, 2010

Approach 1. Temptative analysis Relating research impact with population