Although the role of universities in the knowledge society is increasingly significant, there remains a severe lack of systematic quantitative evidence at the micro-level, with virtually all policy discussion based on country level statistics or case studies.

Contents: PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Theoretical Perspectives on University Strategy Andrea Bonaccorsi and Cinzia Daraio 2. Universities as Strategic Knowledge Creators: Some Preliminary Evidence Andrea Bonaccorsi and Cinzia Daraio PART II: TRANSVERSAL TOPICS 3. Changing Models and Patterns of Higher Education Funding: Some Empirical Evidence Benedetto Lepori, Martin Benninghoff, Ben Jongbloed, Carlo Salerno and Stig Slipersæter 4. The Third Mission and the Entrepreneurial University Model Magnus Gulbrandsen and Stig Slipersæter 5. Efficiency and Productivity in European Universities: Exploring Trade-offs in the Strategic Profile Andrea Bonaccorsi, Cinzia Daraio and Léopold Simar PART III: NATIONAL PATTERNS 6. Patterns of Diversity in the Swiss Higher Education System Benedetto Lepori 7. University Autonomy and Structural Constraints in the Italian System Andrea Bonaccorsi and Cinzia Daraio 8. Cost Structure, Economies of Capacity Utilization and Scope in Swiss Higher Education Institutions Massimo Filippini and Benedetto Lepori 9. The UK Knowledge Production Function Gustavo Crespi 10. The Portuguese Public University System: On the Road to Improvement? Pedro Teixeira, Margarida F. Cardoso, Cláudia S. Sarrico and Maria João Rosa 11. Expansion and Reorganization in the Spanish Higher Education System Adela García-Aracil PART IV: METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES, TOOLS AND DATA PLATFORM 12. Indicators for the Analysis of Higher Education Systems: Some Methodological Reflections Andrea Bonaccorsi, Cinzia Daraio and Benedetto Lepori 13. Variables for Analysing Higher Education Institutions in Europe Stig Slipersæter 14. The University Benchmarker: An Interactive Computer Approach Peter Bogetoft, Harold O. Fried and Philippe Vanden Eeckaut Index

'. . . my opinion is that this book not only presents a wide and complete report of an extensive research effort, but also opens new directions for future research advancements in this field, that is very relevant both from theoretical considerations and policy-making implications.'