University Alliances: Enhancing Control, Capacity, and Creativity in Dynamic Environments

Bjrn Stensaker - Professor, University of Oslo, Department of Education. Address: Box 1092 Blindern, 0317 Oslo, Norway. E-mail: bjorn.stensaker@iped.uio.no During the last few decades a high number of university alliances and strategic partnerships between higher education institutions have been established all over the world. This development can be interpreted in different ways and the article offer some theoretical perspectives relevant to understanding the emergence of and the engagement in institutional collaborations, and how such collaboration affects the field of higher education. The article argues that alliances between universities are ways to enhance organizational capacity but also to take control of more competitive environments. Furthermore, alliances and partnerships can also be seen as the means to enhance organizational creativity and innovation in more organic ways. The paper gives an empirical illustration of how alliances develop and transform over time, and discusses possible long-term implications of alliance formation in the higher education sector.