The present paper focuses on an unexplored line of research in Higher Education Institutions’ (HEIs) studies: the role of programmatic diversity on university attractiveness. Specifcally, it highlights the role of diversifcation and divergence of the degree courses as a lever to attract more freshers. Diversifcation measures the range of the ofered degree courses, while divergence indicates how the mix difers from the national standard. The work addresses the following three research questions: (1) are diversifcation and divergence benefcial to universities in attracting more freshers? Do these efects change with (2) the internal characteristics and (3) the external characteristics of universities? To this aim, the paper explores a panel data set of 75 Italian universities between 2012–2019. Overall, the fndings indicate that programmatic diversity is benefcial but with specifc diferences according to size, research quality and the location of the HEIs. Furthermore, the proximity to other competitors plays an important role.

Do diverse degree courses matter for university attractiveness? / Biagi, Bianca; Ciucci, Laura; Detotto, Claudio; Pulina, Manuela. - In: THE ANNALS OF REGIONAL SCIENCE. - ISSN 0570-1864. - 72:4(2024), pp. 1189-1229. [10.1007/s00168-023-01240-3]

Do diverse degree courses matter for university attractiveness?

Bianca Biagi
Investigation
;
Laura Ciucci
Formal Analysis
;
Claudio Detotto
Methodology
;
Manuela Pulina
Conceptualization
2024-01-01

Abstract

The present paper focuses on an unexplored line of research in Higher Education Institutions’ (HEIs) studies: the role of programmatic diversity on university attractiveness. Specifcally, it highlights the role of diversifcation and divergence of the degree courses as a lever to attract more freshers. Diversifcation measures the range of the ofered degree courses, while divergence indicates how the mix difers from the national standard. The work addresses the following three research questions: (1) are diversifcation and divergence benefcial to universities in attracting more freshers? Do these efects change with (2) the internal characteristics and (3) the external characteristics of universities? To this aim, the paper explores a panel data set of 75 Italian universities between 2012–2019. Overall, the fndings indicate that programmatic diversity is benefcial but with specifc diferences according to size, research quality and the location of the HEIs. Furthermore, the proximity to other competitors plays an important role.
2024
Do diverse degree courses matter for university attractiveness? / Biagi, Bianca; Ciucci, Laura; Detotto, Claudio; Pulina, Manuela. - In: THE ANNALS OF REGIONAL SCIENCE. - ISSN 0570-1864. - 72:4(2024), pp. 1189-1229. [10.1007/s00168-023-01240-3]
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11388/315050
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 2
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 1
social impact