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A Study of Systemic Factors Contributing to Scientific Capital Accumulation in Nordic Higher Education Systems

In the global academic capitalist race, academics, institutions and countries’ symbolic power results from the accumulation of scientific capital (or research production). Previous studies suggested Anglo-­‐Saxon higher education systems (HES) dominated the academic field, but per capita analyses show that Nordic HES achieve comparatively higher results in terms of world-­class universities, publications and citations. Olivier Bégin-­‐Caouette’s thesis work focuses on the identification of systemic factors contributing to the accumulation of scientific capital in Nordic HES.

Following a hypothetical-­‐deductive problem approach and a falsification process, seven systemic factors were hypothesized as having an impact and tested in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden according to a multi-­‐governance framework, and a convergent and parallel mixed-­‐method design. The seven factors are: academic traditions, societal beliefs, public authorities, early-­‐career researchers, funding streams, networking with non-­‐academic actors and internationalization. Please join us as Olivier Bégin-­‐Caouette addresses his thesis findings in a mock defense presentation.