USTREAM project
Call for participation in peer learning seminars on efficiency in higher education
INTRODUCTION
The USTREAM project partners, the European University Association (EUA), Universities UK (UUK), the Irish
University Association (IUA) and the Central European University (CEU), are organising three peer learning
seminars on efficiency of higher education for university leaders, managers and policy makers.
The USTREAM project (Universities for Strategic, Efficient and Autonomous Management) seeks to explore
various measures applied by universities across Europe to enhance efficiency in professional, operational and
support services, as well as in academic matters and strategic governance. The focus is on system-wide
policies enabling universities to operate more efficiently, good practices and recommendations.
CALL FOR PARTICIPATION
The USTREAM partners invite experts, university managers and public administrators experienced in
efficiency at institutional or system level to participate in a series of peer learning seminars dedicated to
various aspects of efficiency and effectiveness in the higher education context.
Participants will share good practices and strategies, discuss challenges and pitfalls, and explore the impact
of efficiency measures on higher education institutions. They will be able to benefit from
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Cutting-edge experience and technical knowledge shared by peers and experts in efficiency
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Exchange of good practices and networking
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Contribution to the design of national and European policies on a topic of importance for the sector
Target audience
Dedicated to a specific topic, each seminar will bring together ca. 20 university leaders and senior managers
experienced in the design, implementation or evaluation of efficiency oriented activities. The seminars will
be of special interest to university’s academic and administrative leadership, including rectors, vice rectors
or other members of the universities’ leadership team, registrars, heads of administration, finance and HR
services, and deans, as well as public officials at national higher education ministries and controlling agencies
overseeing efficiency related matters.
Timeline
The peer learning seminars will take place in June and December 2017, and in January 2018 and will be hosted
by three partner university associations of the USTREAM project.
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
1st and 2nd June 2017: Peer Learning Seminar 1 – Policy frameworks for efficiency and effectiveness,
organised by Universities UK, London, UK

December 2017: Peer Learning Seminar 2 – National and institutional approaches to delivering
efficiency, organised by Irish Universities Association, Dublin, Ireland (*)

February 2018: Peer Learning Seminar 3 – Efficiency, governance and leadership, organised by
European University Association, Brussels, Belgium (*)
(*) The exact dates of the second and third peer learning seminars will be communicated in due time. Please consult the
USTREAM project webpage for further updates.
Format
The peer learning seminars are designed as highly interactive events for a small group of attendees, offering
room for case study presentations and informal discussions. Inspired by local practices of the host countries,
such as Ireland and UK, they will provide a unique opportunity to explore efficiency related activities and
frameworks from a unique cross-institutional and cross-country perspective. Conclusions will be published
online and broadly shared with the community of university leaders and administrators.
Scope
The first peer learning seminar, hosted by Universities UK (UUK), will focus on the policy framework in which
efficiency and effectiveness has been approached with the UK, and the ways in which institutions have
developed strategies to address these policy priorities. The experience gained in the UK will provide the
background for the reflection and discussion of the following questions:
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What are the drivers for policy makers, and the levers and mechanisms used to stimulate action?
How do government and funders work within the framework of a highly autonomous sector to
address the efficiency agenda? And how can the university sector as a whole respond to these
challenges?
How are efficiency and value for money strategies developed, and what are the key factors
underpinning a successful strategy? How are targets, data and benchmarking used to drive
improvement, and what is the role of university boards in overseeing efficiency and value for money?
How do senior leaders assure boards that strategies are being effectively implemented?
How are annual value-for-money reports created and used, and how do these provide assurance to
funders and government?
The second peer learning seminar, hosted by the Irish Universities Association (IUA), will address national
and institutional approaches to delivering efficiency. The focus will be to provide case studies on key
efficiency measures implemented in Ireland and their impact and effectiveness. Participants will explore the
challenges encountered and lessons learnt and try to identify what scope may exist for transferability of these
to other institutions or HE systems. The seminar will also investigate what types of measures are most
effective in delivering efficiency and why (national, sectoral & institutional); and what the key enablers are
with regard to delivering and maximising efficiency. Participants will consider what role funding and funding
models have on implementation of efficiency measures and try to understand the limits to efficiency.
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The third seminar, organised by EUA jointly with HUMANE, Heads of University Management and
Administration Network Europe, will focus on efficiency, governance and leadership. A more detailed
description of this event will be published soon.
PROCEDURE
Application
To submit your expression of interest, please complete the application form (see below) and send it to
[email protected] before the respective deadline. We strongly encourage you to express your interest in
participation as soon as possible even if the deadline for the peer learning seminar of your interest is still
further ahead. If you are interested in more than one seminar please indicate your order of preference.
Peer learning seminar 1 – Policy frameworks for efficiency and
effectiveness
st
Deadline for application:
7 April 2017
nd
1 – 2 June 2017, Universities UK, London, UK
Peer learning seminar 2 – National and institutional approaches
Deadline for application:
December 2017, Irish Universities Association, Dublin, Ireland
18 September 2017
Peer learning seminar 3 – Efficiency, governance and leadership
Deadline for application:
February 2018, European University Association, Brussels, Belgium
To be communicated
Selection
Participants will be selected by the project Steering Committee based on their experience with the topics of
efficiency and effectiveness in the higher education context and motivation to attend the event. Special
consideration will be given to ensuring geographical balance and diversity of institutional profiles.
Applicants will be informed about the outcome of the selection process one week after the application
deadline. Selected participants will be invited to attend the seminar and asked to confirm their participation
six weeks before the event.
Costs of participation
Participation in the USTREAM peer learning seminars is free of charge. Travel and accommodation costs
incurred by the participants of the three events will be funded by the USTREAM project according to the
project rules. Reimbursements will be made after the event based on the expense claim form accompanied
by the formal proof of costs (hotel invoice, ticket receipt, etc.). Detailed reimbursement rules and procedures
will be communicated in due time to the selected applicants by the project team.
Enquiries
Detailed information on the seminars will be published on the USTREAM project webpage. For any inquiries
or further questions regarding the events, please contact the EUA project team at [email protected].
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USTREAM project
APPLICATION FORM
Peer learning seminars on efficiency in higher education
The USTREAM partners invite experts, university managers and public administrators experienced in
efficiency at institutional or system level to participate in a series of peer learning seminars dedicated to
various aspects of efficiency and effectiveness in the higher education context.
Please send your application for participation in the event of your interest to [email protected] by the
respective deadline.
Peer learning seminar 1 – Policy frameworks
Deadline for application:
1st and 2nd of June 2017, Universities UK, London, UK
7 April 2017
Peer learning seminar 2 – National and institutional approaches
Deadline for application:
December 2017, Irish Universities Association, Dublin, Ireland (*)
18 September 2017
Peer learning seminar 3 – Efficiency, governance and leadership
Deadline for application:
February 2018, European University Association, Brussels, Belgium (*)
To be communicated
(*) The exact dates of the second and third peer learning seminars will be communicated in due time. Please consult the USTREAM
project webpage for the updates.
1. Information about the applicant
Applicant home institution
Institution name
City
Country
Applicant
Surname, forename
Position in institution
Responsibilities (max. 50 words)
Email
Telephone
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2. Peer learning seminar of interest
Please specify which peer learning seminar you would like to attend. If you are interested in attending several
events, please rank the seminars in order of preference, 1 being your most preferred choice and 3 being your
least preferred choice. Possibilities to participate in more than one event will depend on the actual interest
in different peer learning seminars.
Peer learning seminar 1 – Policy frameworks for efficiency and effectiveness
1st and 2nd June 2017, organised by Universities UK, London, UK
Peer learning seminar 2 – National and institutional approaches
December 2017, organised by Irish Universities Association, Dublin, Ireland
Peer learning seminar 3 – Efficiency, governance and leadership
February 2018, organised by European University Association, Brussels, Belgium
3. Related experience and motivation for participation
Please explain why you would like to participate in the peer learning seminar and what expertise you can
bring to the discussion. The following tentative questions can help you to structure your response:
Higher education institutions
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Please give examples of your past or current activities, or responsibilities related to efficiency in the
higher education context.
Please briefly describe any processes or practices supporting efficiency at your institution and lessons
learnt.
Please briefly describe how you can contribute to the event and disseminate the conclusions.
Public authorities
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Please briefly explain how your function or responsibilities relate to efficiency or effectiveness in the
higher education context.
Please briefly describe any national or regional reforms, strategies or policy frameworks supporting
efficiency of universities and lessons learnt in your country.
Please briefly describe how you can contribute to the event and disseminate the conclusions.
The answer should not exceed one page.
Participants will be asked to fill in the USTREAM questionnaire prior to the event.
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