MTEI Seminar by Stefano Bianchini, University of Strasbourg - BETA
Event details
| Date | 27.05.2015 |
| Hour | 12:00 › 13:30 |
| Speaker |
Stefano Bianchini, University of Strasbourg - BETA |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
"The economics of research, consulting, and teaching quality: theory and evidence from a technical university"
Abstract
We investigate the effect of both research and consulting on higher education teaching quality at the individual level. We propose a theoretical model in which academics allocate limited time between three activities, over a two period horizon, under the assumption of positive spillovers from research to both consulting opportunities and teaching, and of life cycle effects on incentives. Propositions from the model are tested against teaching evaluation data from a mid-sized Italian engineering faculty. We find that research experience improves teaching quality, but only if it does not translate into large consulting opportunities. In that case, research experience provides too strong a disincentive to invest time in teaching, and quality deteriorates.
Keywords: higher education; teaching; academic consulting; research; economics of science
Short bio:
Stefano Bianchini is ending his PhD in economics at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa / BETA, University of Strasbourg. His research interest covers two broad lines: (i) industrial dynamics, in particular the effects of innovation on growth, as well as on the persistence of firm performance, and (ii) economics of science, more precisely he is interested in studying complementarities and trade-offs between universities' three missions (teaching, research and knowledge transfer). He has been recently involved in a project aimed to assess the short-term economic return of science funding.
Abstract
We investigate the effect of both research and consulting on higher education teaching quality at the individual level. We propose a theoretical model in which academics allocate limited time between three activities, over a two period horizon, under the assumption of positive spillovers from research to both consulting opportunities and teaching, and of life cycle effects on incentives. Propositions from the model are tested against teaching evaluation data from a mid-sized Italian engineering faculty. We find that research experience improves teaching quality, but only if it does not translate into large consulting opportunities. In that case, research experience provides too strong a disincentive to invest time in teaching, and quality deteriorates.
Keywords: higher education; teaching; academic consulting; research; economics of science
Short bio:
Stefano Bianchini is ending his PhD in economics at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa / BETA, University of Strasbourg. His research interest covers two broad lines: (i) industrial dynamics, in particular the effects of innovation on growth, as well as on the persistence of firm performance, and (ii) economics of science, more precisely he is interested in studying complementarities and trade-offs between universities' three missions (teaching, research and knowledge transfer). He has been recently involved in a project aimed to assess the short-term economic return of science funding.
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
Contact
- cdm-seminars@epfl.ch