Den kvalitetsmärkta högskolan

The Excellent University

In just a few years, the quest for quality has become a concern of utmost priority in higher education. Universities, faculties, research councils and the National Agency for Higher Education regularly undertake evaluations to find out whether the academic work performed by university institutions is on “highest international level” or not. Ranking-lists are constantly published and the claims to excellence are increasing in the self-presentations of universities. In the article, this cult of quality is seen as a consequence of the insufficiency of resources that plague university institutions today. In an environment that advocates quality and excellence, there are few ways to overcome financial difficulties other than to outshine one’s competitors. Thus, the quest for quality and excellence should be seen as a systemic effect of under-financed meritocracies, whereby quality tends to replace the idea of truth as the purpose of research and education.