Abstract:

Since 2000s, the system of the higher education in Turkey has been developed in order to improve innovation by encouraging the research and development (R&D) activities. Hence, not only the Council of Higher Education and the governmental policies but also the universities have focused on acceleration of R&D ecosystem by improving innovative and technological disciplines, internalization, national qualification framework, university and industry partnerships, investments on laboratories and technology transfer offices (TTOs) and choosing 10 research universities. However, there are no specified criteria to calculate the impacts of these strategic activities in order to create deep down learning and analysis.

In this study, the main purpose is to develop an assessment by creating ratings on a 5-point scale in which it is possible to cluster the universities’ activities in order to observe and compare the differences and the impacts. In that way, the assessment would create short-term as well as long-term strategies in the decision-making processes. For that reason, the assessment to measure R&D capacities and impacts of the universities is designed. A 5-point scale defines from 5 which is for ‘well above world standard’ to 1 which is ‘well below world standard.’ In order to be sure about the validity and reliability, first, the other assessments in the world, particularly in the US, Australia, Japan, EU, UK, and South Korea. In that way, by understanding research strategies in terms of the similarities and differences, the universities performances can be described and predicted for the coming decades, More strategically, the main purpose of this assessment is designed to predict the impacts. The first draft of the assessment is used in 3 different research universities in Istanbul in order to develop a new assessment for the needs of the universities in Turkey.

After developing and using the assessments about the R&D capacities of the universities, it is decided to use 8 different sub-assessment themes. The first one is related to ‘space’ use of the universities in order to increase R&D capacities. The second theme is related to ‘machines* and software capacities of the universities. The third theme is ‘materials.’ Both the usage of the ‘machines’ and ‘materials,’ which are used directly and indirectly in the R&D activities, are analyzed in order to understand the innovation capacities. The fourth theme is ‘methodology’ of the R&D capacities as a system. Then, as the fifth theme, which is ‘man power,’ is overviewed in the universities in which these type of helping people and administrations are very important in decreasing bureaucracies. The sixth theme is ‘money’ as fuel of rocket. In this part the allocation of money is analyzed as input and output. Additionally, the seventh theme, which is ‘time,’ is considered in the R&D capacities’ development. As the most important aspect of the R&D capacities of the universities, the eight theme ‘mind power’ is considered. As a result, this assessment has showed important profiles of the universities in the R&D capacities. Even though this assessment is developed according to the structure of the Turkish universities, different references are taken from the global assessment systems in different countries in order to make right predictions. All in all, though this assessment has some limitations, it can be used in order to accelerate the R&D capacities of the universities.

Keywords:

Higher Education, Universities, R&D Capacities, Research Universities, Higher Education Management, Higher Education Policies, Higher Education Finance.