The dynamics of university units as a multi‐level process. Credibility cycles and resource dependencies

What is it about?

Resource acquisition is important for the development of research units. Its relevance is heightened by increasing competition and selectivity, as well as state attempts to steer research through resource allocation (‘academic capitalism’). On the one hand, research units are embedded in a market system, competing for external resources from ‘customers’ who buy research services based on their needs. On the other hand, research units are embedded within larger university structures, which control internal funding. But what are the implications of the interaction between this institutional embeddedness and the increasing reliance on external funds? How does this affect the development and growth dynamics of research units? In our research, we develop a model of funding acquisition by university units, which takes into account the interaction between institutional funding and third party funding. To this aim, we conceptualize resource acquisition as a two-level nested process, where units compete for external resources based on their scientific credibility and reputation, while at the same time competing for internal resources within the university.

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Why is it important?

Resource acquisition is important for the development of research units. Its relevance is heightened by increasing competition and selectivity, as well as state attempts to steer research through resource allocation (‘academic capitalism’). On the one hand, research units are embedded in a market system, competing for external resources from ‘customers’ who buy research services based on their needs. On the other hand, research units are embedded within larger university structures, which control internal funding. But what are the implications of the interaction between this institutional embeddedness and the increasing reliance on external funds? How does this affect the development and growth dynamics of research units? In our research, we develop a model of funding acquisition by university units, which takes into account the interaction between institutional funding and third party funding. To this aim, we conceptualize resource acquisition as a two-level nested process, where units compete for external resources based on their scientific credibility and reputation, while at the same time competing for internal resources within the university.