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Abstract

The aim of this chapter is threefold: (1) to explore the potential of indexes as an instrument for measuring inequalities in higher education; (2) to discuss challenges related to the use of these indexes; and (3) to highlight how indexes could be used in policy-making for inequality reduction. Building on previous research and on the view that higher education is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon, this chapter presents three indexes related to higher education: index for inclusion in higher education, index of fairness in higher education, and index for higher education as a common good. The empirical basis used for their calculation is drawn from large-scale representative and cross-national surveys, such as EUROSTUDENT and the European Social Survey, and from official statistics. This chapter demonstrates the advantages of indexes, such as allowing comparison over time and across countries. A special focus is put on the challenges stemming from lack of data for certain dimensions or for some countries, or related to the fact that surveys used to calculate complex indexes rely on self-reporting data, a fact that may raise doubts as to their correctness. Other challenges are the nonequivalence of the cross-national survey data and the need to deal with the so-called “imperialism” of international surveys, which may “impose” concrete definitions and ways of thinking in the surveys’ core questionnaires. Taking into account both their heuristic potential and the arising challenges, this chapter discusses how indexes can be used as a tool for evidence-based policy-making targeted at reducing inequalities in higher education.

Abstract

In the context of higher education’s growing significance and the persistence of inequalities in it, the article aims to further develop the understanding of higher education as a public good and to explore its association with social cohesion in a European comparative perspective. It shifts the focus from the content of higher education as a driver of its social contributions towards the role of higher education realisation in a given society as determining its social effects. Two new methodological instruments are developed: an index of higher education as a public good and an index of social cohesion. The analysis draws on data from Eurostat, the EUROSTUDENT Survey VII, and the European Social Survey, Round 10. The results indicate substantial cross-country differences in social cohesion and in the realisation of higher education as a public good. The article identifies a positive association between the realisation of higher education as a public good in a given country and the level of social cohesion there. From the four dimensions of higher education as a public good related to access, participation, completion, and the state’s commitment to its development, the strongest relationship is between the state’s commitment to its development and social cohesion.

While researchers and politicians have addressed issues related to achieving right mix of skills and avoiding skills mismatches from an economic perspective, focusing on jobs, careers and labour market demands, the effects of skills mismatches may extend beyond the realms of the economy and labour market. Recent literature highlights that skills are also a primary source of well-being and societal flourishing. This perspective aligns with the capability approach, allowing the Skills2Capabilities project to go beyond the economistic and instrumental viewpoints in understanding skills formation and considering other roles of skills as well.

The current analysis presents the initial findings within Work Package 5, “Drivers and effects of skills mismatch,” focusing on the distribution and effects of educational and skills mismatch. It is based on pooled data from the 2014 European Skills and Jobs Survey across 28 countries. The results unveil patterns that shed light on workforce mismatch status and distribution, as well as changes in job roles and job satisfaction among both matched and mismatched workers.

While researchers and politicians have addressed issues related to achieving right mix of skills and avoiding skills mismatches from an economic perspective, focusing on jobs, careers and labour market demands, the effects of skills mismatches may extend beyond the realms of the economy and labour market. Recent literature highlights that skills are also a primary source of well-being and societal flourishing. This perspective aligns with the capability approach, allowing the Skills2Capabilities project to go beyond the economistic and instrumental viewpoints in understanding skills formation and considering other roles of skills as well.

The current analysis presents the initial findings within Work Package 5, “Drivers and effects of skills mismatch,” focusing on the distribution and effects of educational and skills mismatch. It is based on pooled data from the 2014 European Skills and Jobs Survey across 28 countries. The results unveil patterns that shed light on workforce mismatch status and distribution, as well as changes in job roles and job satisfaction among both matched and mismatched workers.

Find more details on the attached presentation (in Dutch) and please get in touch with Didier if you would like more information: d.fouarge@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Didier is the leader of the S2C work package examining the supply of skills and lifelong learning.

In such a central city location, the Largo of Sofia, was the place where Dr. Alexandrova introduced stakeholders to the objectives of Skills2Capabilities and the need to implement new approaches in education systems and policies to overcome mismatches in the demand and supply of skills in the labor market. The project was promoted through a leaflet and in the portfolio of the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Paper 1: Bridging the capability approach and the status model of recognition: Can macroopportunity structures mitigate individual structural vulnerabilities regarding participation in higher education? by Pepka Boyadjieva and Petya Ilieva- Trichkova, IPS-BAS

Paper 2: The importance of internet use for participation in adult education in Europe by Rumiana Stoilova and Petya Ilieva- Trichkova, IPS-BAS

Paper 3: The vulnerability of spectral entrepreneurs: The case of Stolipinovo by Georgi Medarov, IPS-BAS

Paper 4: Capabilities for home-based workers in Bulgaria by Petya Klimentova, IPS-BAS

Poster: Vulnerability in times of a pandemic: Evidence from Bulgarians 50+ by Ralitsa Dimitrova, IPS-BAS.

A truly global event, the conference was hosted by the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” with more than 300 participants from 60 countries from Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, South and North America. On benalf of both the Organising and Programme Committees the conference was opened by Prof. Pepka Boyadjieva, member of the Skills2Capabilities. A special guest speaker at the opening ceremony was the Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov, Booker International prize winner for 2023. A key-note speech was delivered by the eminent American philosopher Martha Nussbaum. The conference hosted 8 plenary sessions by notable keynote speakers, high-level panel discussions, and 80 parallel sessions. The format of the conference was hybrid, with mostly in-person, but also with online and hybrid sessions. More information about the conference is available here: 2023 HDCA Conference – Sofia, Bulgaria | Human Development and Capability Association.

In this talk the authors assess different frameworks for analysing vocational education and training systems and proposing a combined approach. This work is part of the Skills2Capabilities Work Package 3 which aims to create a new framework that equally acknowledges social and educational (personal development) aims, in addition to economic aims of VET systems.

A full version of the presentation is available here:Download presentation

In his keynote, Ken Mayhew, Emeritus Professor of Education and Economic Performance at the University of Oxford, stressed that when looking at indicators, skill forecasts and vacancy rates skill mismatch is a problem on European labour markets and that it will get worse – but panic is not the answer, as policy can react to the changing world of work. Job markets have been and will keep on changing fundamentally with new job profiles being created, old job profiles being altered and some jobs completely disappearing, but the main question is: Who will take responsibility and action? The state, the employer or the individual?

He pointed out that policy makers and stakeholders should not focus on predicting the future of work, but take action and create it themselves. In his view, the problem with forecasting labour market changes is that indicators and figures are often (mis)used in the debate to stress an argument in one direction or the other without making it clear what is actually measured. Moreover, Ken Mayhew’s advice to employers is to not rely too much on state-funding and take matters into their own hands by training their workforce wherever possible.

The expert discussion then served as a joint reflection on the keynote’s input and the general topic by a diverse panel of Austrian stakeholders and international researchers. Focus was the direct exchange of experiences, practices and ideas between stakeholders facing the immediate problems of skill mismatches and researchers trying to make sense of the phenomenon. Discussants were Ursula Bazant, Head of Education & Training at ÖBB Infrastruktur AG, Petya Ilieva-Trichkova, Associate Professor at the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPS-BAS), Manuela Vollmann, Founder of the social profit organisation ABZ* Austria, Terence Hogarth, Professor at the University of Warwick and lead researcher at the Warwick Institute of Employment Research (IER), and Johannes Schweighofer, Head of the Unit for International Labour Market Policy and Research at the Austrian Ministry for Labour and Economy. The discussion was moderated by Didier Fouarge, Professor at Maastricht University and Director of the Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market (ROA).

From an employer’s perspective that already had to take action due to labour shortages and skill mismatch and an organisation that serves as the mediator between employers and workforce, first hand insights into the problems that have been arising for companies and individuals as well as the methods and solutions that are already in place were given. Concerning research on the matter, it was stressed that some of the biggest problems regarding forecasting and informing stakeholders, lie in the definition of concepts such as “skills” and “competencies”. The issue is overly complex, and even if it was possible to predict skill demands precisely – on national, regional and sectoral level – there are many clear cut fields of action to start to support the change coming: support the acquisition of transversal skills, reach out to adult learners and design motivating learning arrangements, train the trainers, strengthen exchange and cooperation between companies, training providers and experts, acknowledge the value of learning in the workplace and the impact of job design to let individuals’ capabilities be put into practice.

We would like to thank all participants for taking part in this lively event and are hoping to continue fostering the exchange of ideas between stakeholders and researchers on labour shortages and skill mismatch within the Skills2Capabilities project.

We would like to thank all participants for taking part in this lively event and are hoping to continue fostering the exchange of ideas between stakeholders and researchers on labour shortages and skill mismatch within the Skills2Capabilities project.

With the presentation of this report, the first phase of the preparation of the strategic document was finalized. During the second phase, an Action plan will be elaborated. The OECD team leader, Andrew Bell, presented the priority areas underpinned by the strategy, which are:

• Improving youth skills
• Improving adult skills
• Using skills effectively in the labour market and at work
• Improving the governance of the skills system

Petya Ilieva-Trichkova took part in one of the thematic working groups related to the development of the action plan for the Strategy, namely, the working group "Statistics and Data." During the discussion, she presented the project and suggested considering the possibility of including skills mismatch or skills demand/supply as an indicator in the Strategy.

The participation of members of the Bulgarian Skills2Capabilities team in such events and their cooperation with representatives of various state institutions enables the wide dissemination of the project results and increases their impact, namely by providing decision-makers in the executive and educational institutions with a better understanding of the capabilities that skills systems will need to deliver in the future.

Link to official news event (English).