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In line with the growing relevance of higher education and science for societal development and innovation processes, there has been a steady increase in the salience of interrelations with the extra-academic environment in the context of academics' work. Insights into the status of this so-called third mission in the academic profession remain fragmented, however. We use the concept of an academic identity as an analytical lens to investigate this status empirically based on an original survey among 4,284 professors in Germany across the full range of academic disciplines. The results show that the third mission is firmly included in the academic identities of many, but not all, professors and that the forms of inclusion differ. Specifically, we are able to identify four types of identities: (1) the dedicated type who embraces the third mission as a whole; (2) the idealistic type who emphasizes responsibility toward society and sociopolitical matters; (3) the pragmatic type who emphasizes material work-related and personal benefits; and (4) the reserved type, characterized by an overall distanced stance. We furthermore find evidence of a strong impact of disciplinary communities on the specific types of identities that academics develop, whereas the organizational context and the cohorts to which academics belong appear less relevant. In addition, there are indications that individual characteristics shape the identity formation process. Last, there are strong and differential associations between academics' identities and their actual third mission engagement. Overall, it appears that the third mission—at least if its multifaceted nature is considered—is a relevant area of activity for a significant share of the academic profession.

In line with the growing relevance of higher education and science for societal development and innovation processes, there has been a steady increase in the salience of interrelations with the extra-academic environment in the context of academics’ work. Insights into the status of this so-called third mission in the academic profession remain fragmented, however. We use the concept of an academic identity as an analytical lens to investigate this status empirically based on an original survey among 4,284 professors in Germany across the full range of academic disciplines. The results show that the third mission is firmly included in the academic identities of many, but not all, professors and that the forms of inclusion differ. Specifically, we are able to identify four types of identities: (1) the dedicated type who embraces the third mission as a whole; (2) the idealistic type who emphasizes responsibility toward society and sociopolitical matters; (3) the pragmatic type who emphasizes material work-related and personal benefits; and (4) the reserved type, characterized by an overall distanced stance. We furthermore find evidence of a strong impact of disciplinary communities on the specific types of identities that academics develop, whereas the organizational context and the cohorts to which academics belong appear less relevant. In addition, there are indications that individual characteristics shape the identity formation process. Last, there are strong and differential associations between academics’ identities and their actual third mission engagement. Overall, it appears that the third mission—at least if its multifaceted nature is considered—is a relevant area of activity for a significant share of the academic profession.

Beiträge und Positionierungen von Wissenschaftler*innen sind in der jüngsten Vergangenheit intensiv in der Öffentlichkeit diskutiert worden. Dies hatte nicht nur positive Reaktionen zur Folge. Vitus Püttmann und Professor Stephan Thomsen vom Institut für Wirtschaftspolitik haben untersucht, inwieweit das Risiko, negative Erfahrungen mit öffentlichen Debatten zu machen, die Diskursbeteiligung von Wissenschaftler*innen beeinflusst.

Academics are increasingly expected to engage in public discussions. We study how engagement conditions affect academics' engagement attitudes via a survey experiment among 4,091 tenured professors in Germany. Consistent with the crowding-out of intrinsic motivation, we find less-positive attitudes when emphasizing public authorities' demands and public expectations regarding science's societal relevance. Effects are particularly strong among professors endorsing science–society relations. Moreover, effects are similar when highlighting risks associated with engagement, but more pronounced for females, and absent when emphasizing public support for academics' engagement. We conclude that considering individual incentive structures and safeguarding against repercussions may promote academics' engagement.

Forschungsleistungen sind nicht unabhängig von den gegebenen institutionellen Rahmenbedingungen. Auf Basis der personellen und finanziellen Ausstattung sowie der Lehrbelastung identifizieren wir sechs Gruppen der universitären Wirtschaftswissenschaften in Deutschland. Für diese vergleichen wir Promotionen, Drittmittel, Publikationen und die Platzierung im RePEc-Ranking als gängige Indikatoren zur Forschungsleistung. Die Ergebnisse bestätigen erwartungsgemäß Zusammenhänge zwischen Input- und Outputgrößen. Besonders bedeutsam ist die Ausstattung der Professuren mit wissenschaftlichem Personal. Zugleich lassen sich gemeinsame Forschungsprofile in den verschiedenen Gruppen erkennen: z.B. sind einige wenige (tendenziell große und junge) Standorte auf Top-Publikationen spezialisiert; andere sind darauf weniger ausgerichtet, leisten aber vielzitierte und drittmittelstarke Forschung. Die Analyse unterstreicht die notwendige Differenzierung bei Leistungsvergleichen und soll als Diskussionsanstoß für Weiterentwicklungen dienen.

Forschungsleistungen sind nicht unabhängig von den gegebenen institutionellen Rahmenbedingungen. Auf Basis der personellen und finanziellen Ausstattung sowie der Lehrbelastung identifizieren wir sechs Gruppen der universitären Wirtschaftswissenschaften in Deutschland. Für diese vergleichen wir Promotionen, Drittmittel, Publikationen und die Platzierung im RePEc-Ranking als gängige Indikatoren zur Forschungsleistung. Die Ergebnisse bestätigen erwartungsgemäß Zusammenhänge zwischen Input- und Outputgrößen. Besonders bedeutsam ist die Ausstattung der Professuren mit wissenschaftlichem Personal. Zugleich lassen sich gemeinsame Forschungsprofile in den verschiedenen Gruppen erkennen: z.B. sind einige wenige (tendenziell große und junge) Standorte auf Top-Publikationen spezialisiert; andere sind darauf weniger ausgerichtet, leisten aber vielzitierte und drittmittelstarke Forschung. Die Analyse unterstreicht die notwendige Differenzierung bei Leistungsvergleichen und soll als Diskussionsanstoß für Weiterentwicklungen dienen.

Focus on Performance - World Bank Support to Higher Education in Latvia. Volume 1: System-Level Funding Since 2013, the World Bank has supported the Latvian government through a succession of advisory work focusing on performance at different levels of the higher education sector. This publication focuses on the development of a performance-based, system-level funding model for the higher education sector in Latvia and consists of three reports: i) Higher Education Financing in Latvia: Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses; ii) Assessment of Current Funding Model’s “Strategic Fit” with Higher Education Policy Objectives; and iii) Higher Education Financing in Latvia: Final Report. Volume 2: Internal Funding and Governance Since 2013, the World Bank has supported the Latvian government through a succession of advisory work focusing on performance at different levels of the higher education sector. This publication focuses on the analysis of university-internal higher education funding and governance, followed changes at the system-level funding model. It consists of three reports: i) International Trends and Good Practices in Higher Education Internal Funding and Governance; ii) Internal Funding and Governance in Latvian Higher Education Institutions: Status Quo Report; and iii) Internal Funding and Governance in Latvian Higher Education Institutions: Recommendations.. Volume 3: Academic Careers Since 2013, the World Bank has supported the Latvian government through a succession of advisory work focusing on performance at different levels of the higher education sector. This publication focuses on the analysis of the doctorate and human resource policies and on improving academic careers. It consists of three reports: i) Academic Careers: Learning From Good International Practice; ii) Academic Careers In Latvia: Status Quo Report; iii) Academic Careers In Latvia: Recommendations.

Focus on Performance - World Bank Support to Higher Education in Latvia. Volume 1: System-Level Funding Since 2013, the World Bank has supported the Latvian government through a succession of advisory work focusing on performance at different levels of the higher education sector. This publication focuses on the development of a performance-based, system-level funding model for the higher education sector in Latvia and consists of three reports: i) Higher Education Financing in Latvia: Analysis of Strengths and Weaknesses; ii) Assessment of Current Funding Model’s “Strategic Fit” with Higher Education Policy Objectives; and iii) Higher Education Financing in Latvia: Final Report. Volume 2: Internal Funding and Governance Since 2013, the World Bank has supported the Latvian government through a succession of advisory work focusing on performance at different levels of the higher education sector. This publication focuses on the analysis of university-internal higher education funding and governance, followed changes at the system-level funding model. It consists of three reports: i) International Trends and Good Practices in Higher Education Internal Funding and Governance; ii) Internal Funding and Governance in Latvian Higher Education Institutions: Status Quo Report; and iii) Internal Funding and Governance in Latvian Higher Education Institutions: Recommendations.. Volume 3: Academic Careers Since 2013, the World Bank has supported the Latvian government through a succession of advisory work focusing on performance at different levels of the higher education sector. This publication focuses on the analysis of the doctorate and human resource policies and on improving academic careers. It consists of three reports: i) Academic Careers: Learning From Good International Practice; ii) Academic Careers In Latvia: Status Quo Report; iii) Academic Careers In Latvia: Recommendations.