30 May

University research governance, responds to the tensions of scientific journal policy publindex in colombia (sjppc)

Date: 30 May 2018
Time: 12.30 - 13:45 hrs
Venue: Ravelijn, RA 1247
Speaker: Maria Alejandra Tejada, PhD candidate in Governance of Knowledge and Innovation, STePS, University of Twente

ABSTRACT:

This doctoral research aims to understand the demands of national scientific policies in university research governance context. Specifically, focus on the scientific journal policy –Publindex- in Colombia (SJPPC). SJPPC is used as an incentive to promote knowledge production and dissemination. These policies are affected by international and national demands that produce tensions in the research governance, journal systems R&D evaluation (Shapira & Kuhlmann, 2003), and performance appraisals (Binswanger, 2015).

Given that universities are subject to tensions, the central research question is How does the governance of research universities respond to the tensions of SJPPC? The specific objective of this thesis is to understand the institutional responses of universities to international and national demands in a unique setting. Therefore, this research follows an embedded case study approach (Yin, 2009, Anselm Strauss 1916-96, George & Bennet, 2005) using multilevel analysis.

Three case studies were selected based on the following criteria: missional institutional orientation,  public and private universities, open access/ heritage, international excellence and social impact. The data collected from various sources; interviews, two focus groups, policy documents, institutional documents, debates in newspapers, and academic events. 52 semi-structured interviews were the primary method to gather empirical data.

Some of the results of this research come up as tensions: (T1) Chaos, ambiguous and discontinuous changes in scientific journal policy (T2) Perverse research incentives regarding wages vs. reputation (publish or perish,) financial unsustainability over income in public universities. (T3) Obsolete evaluation mechanism, spurious indicators vulnerable to manipulate. (T4) Ethical dilemmas, misconduct. (T5) Research agenda autonomy, pressure from corporatization rankings and databases. (T5) Scientific communities standardization

Bio

María Alejandra Tejada is Ph.D. Candidate in Governance of Knowledge and Innovation, at the Department of Science, Technology and Policy Studies (STƏPS) at the University of Twente, Netherlands. She obtained an M.Sc. in Information Science (2013) at the University Carlos III (Spain) and B.Sc. in Business Management (2003) at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia). She has experience in diverse positions in management, consulting, research, journalism, and teaching.