nep-sog New Economics Papers
on Sociology of Economics
Issue of 2018‒09‒03
three papers chosen by
Jonas Holmström
Axventure AB

  1. The state of doctoral research in Uzbekistan: Results of a survey of doctoral students in agricultural economics By Ganiev, Ibragim; Djanibekov, Nodir; Hasanov, Shavkat; Petrick, Martin
  2. The Impact on Research Quality of Performance-Based Funding: The Case of New Zealand's PBRF Scheme* By Buckle, Robert A.; Creedy, John
  3. Government promotion of scientific research and innovative activity at higher educational institutions: the main instruments of support, its scale and beneficiaries By Kuzyk Mikhail; Zudin N.; Simachev Yuri

  1. By: Ganiev, Ibragim; Djanibekov, Nodir; Hasanov, Shavkat; Petrick, Martin
    Abstract: The present study assesses the state of doctoral research and postgraduate education in agricultural economics in higher education institutions (HEI) in Uzbekistan and outlines initiatives for change. To better understand the content, process, and outcomes of postgraduate education and doctoral research, a survey of 72 doctoral students in HEI was conducted. The survey data show that the respondents cooperate little with their peers outside of Uzbekistan, lack international peer-reviewed publications and training in relevant theories and methods, and are underrepresented in international scientific events and associations. Furthermore, the scarcity of research funds and individual reearch space, as well as an excessive teaching load were indicated as key factors affecting the quality of doctoral research. Almost all respondents were satisfied with their current supervision, but were interested in being co-supervised by foreign professors. Most PhD students wish to continue their professional career within academia. Future reforms should enhance the quality and relevance of structured education programmes for PhD students, raise the incentives for conducting high-quality research that is published internationally, and support national and international collaboration between researchers.
    Keywords: Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession
    Date: 2017
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ags:iamodp:259805&r=sog
  2. By: Buckle, Robert A.; Creedy, John
    Abstract: This paper discusses the impact on research quality of New Zealand universities of the Performance-Based Research Fund from 2003 to 2012. This is a peer-review process involving assessment of individual researchers. The contribution to improvement in research quality of transitions among research quality categories and entrants and exits of individuals are identified. A substantial component of change has been the removal of non-research active staff. There has been population ageing due to retention of older and higher-quality researchers and a large reduction in the number of younger researchers. Significant differences among universities are evident in the patterns of transformation. The paper also critically considers the PBRF assessment process and characteristics of the metrics used, suggesting scope for improvement in the assessment of researchers and the way in which universities are ranked.
    Keywords: Education, New Zealand universities, Performance-based Research Fund, Research,
    Date: 2018
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:vuw:vuwcpf:7613&r=sog
  3. By: Kuzyk Mikhail (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy); Zudin N. (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy); Simachev Yuri (Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy)
    Abstract: One typical feature of Russia’s science sector, inherited from the Soviet period, is the predominant role in its research and development (R&D) activities of the ‘traditional’ scientific research organizations, represented by the research institutes operating under the system of government-funded academies of sciences (academic science), as well as by the research institutes and R&D bureaus subordinated to branch ministries and government departments (sectoral science); meanwhile, the role of higher educational institutions (HEE) in those activities was rather modest. At the same time, since the early 2000s, the volume of R&D projects launched in Russia by higher educational institutions and the number of researchers participating in them, has been increasing at a stable rate both in absolute and relative terms. As a result, over the last one-and-a-half decades, the number of researchers involved in the higher education sector increased more than 1.5 times, the sector’s relative share in the total number of researchers and total internal R&D costs[1] nearly doubled, and the corresponding costs incurred by higher educational institutions in constant prices increased more than 4-fold.
    Keywords: Russian economy, R&D, science, technology
    JEL: O31 O32 O3 I28 I2
    Date: 2018
    URL: http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:gai:ppaper:ppaper-2018-318&r=sog

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