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Notions of Quality and Excellence within a Centre for Excellence Initiative in Higher Education

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Title: Notions of Quality and Excellence within a Centre for Excellence Initiative in Higher Education
Language: English
Authors: Aslaug Louise Slette (ORCID 0009-0003-6625-4804), Geir Johansen
Source: Higher Education Policy. 2026 39(2):551-569.
Availability: Palgrave Macmillan. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail:customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: http://www.palgrave.com/us/social-science/education
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Educational Quality, Teacher Centers, College Faculty, Higher Education, Program Proposals, Reports, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Norway
DOI: 10.1057/s41307-025-00399-y
ISSN: 0952-8733
1740-3863
Abstract: While initiatives that aim to achieve excellence within research in higher education are quite common, initiatives focusing on excellence within education is a more recent phenomenon. This article reports on a document study of calls for proposals, applications and reports from the Norwegian 'Centres for Excellence in Education' Initiative. Based on the central literature in the field, the study investigates the notions of 'quality' and 'excellence' that can be identified. The findings revealed four groups of notions of educational quality and excellence: 'subject-specific', 'education-centred', 'sector-targeted' and 'sector-wide' notions. The analysis also revealed a skewed distribution between statements pointing inwards to the institutions or subject areas versus outwards to the higher education sector and society, in favour of the inbound notions. The increased impact and participation of students within the centres stood out as an example of 'whose quality' has influenced the identified notions. The article concludes by questioning the prominence of excellence within the initiative, asking whether excellence is more of an attitude than something the centres have managed to express or something to reach for rather than something to achieve.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 20260101
Accession Number: EJ1513452
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Aslaug+Louise+Slette%22">Aslaug Louise Slette</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="http://orcid.org/0009-0003-6625-4804">0009-0003-6625-4804</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Geir+Johansen%22">Geir Johansen</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Higher+Education+Policy%22"><i>Higher Education Policy</i></searchLink>. 2026 39(2):551-569.
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  Data: Palgrave Macmillan. Available from: Springer Nature. One New York Plaza, Suite 4600, New York, NY 10004. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-460-1700; e-mail:customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: http://www.palgrave.com/us/social-science/education
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Quality%22">Educational Quality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Centers%22">Teacher Centers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Faculty%22">College Faculty</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Proposals%22">Program Proposals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reports%22">Reports</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
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  Data: While initiatives that aim to achieve excellence within research in higher education are quite common, initiatives focusing on excellence within education is a more recent phenomenon. This article reports on a document study of calls for proposals, applications and reports from the Norwegian 'Centres for Excellence in Education' Initiative. Based on the central literature in the field, the study investigates the notions of 'quality' and 'excellence' that can be identified. The findings revealed four groups of notions of educational quality and excellence: 'subject-specific', 'education-centred', 'sector-targeted' and 'sector-wide' notions. The analysis also revealed a skewed distribution between statements pointing inwards to the institutions or subject areas versus outwards to the higher education sector and society, in favour of the inbound notions. The increased impact and participation of students within the centres stood out as an example of 'whose quality' has influenced the identified notions. The article concludes by questioning the prominence of excellence within the initiative, asking whether excellence is more of an attitude than something the centres have managed to express or something to reach for rather than something to achieve.
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Centers
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