^+1The Finn wrote:Coming in a bit from the side here
One important difference between the States and some other places as far as I can see is that there is a huge difference *within* the University system, between the so called ivy league universities, which draw in what we in the business call the rock star researchers (ahem), and which prioritize research over teaching, and where the competition for tenure is fiercely competitive; and many of the state universities which don't have much of a research profile, and where the teaching can be seriously average.
As far as I can see European Universities don't have so much internal differentiation. All the Dutch universities that I know of all all pretty excellent. The difference between them is not so much about who is 'ivy league' and who is not, but religious orientation
Also, in many European universities there often seems to be a much more balanced approach to the mix of research and teaching. They don't rate so well in the international rankings because the scores are heavily influenced by publishing. But you get an excellent education there. For example Bologna, a University I know a little bit in my field, is almost invisible in the international stats in my field - but they have some really good academics and the students they produce are excellent. Especially at undergraduate level.
British Universities - a very mixed bag, more differentiated (ranging from technical schools to Oxf/Cambridge) but for the most part *very* solid teaching; quality of postgrad education (as in Europe) would depend on what field a particular university is strong in.
On the whole the British University system has over the last few decades been one of the strongest in the world, with really high quality education *and* good research. This will soon not be the case, as the new govt seems to be embarking on some really ruinous policies.
I dunno about sports. I personally don't think it makes a huge difference.
For me the ideal academic career would be: undergraduate education in Europe --> Ph D in the UK --> ridiculously well paid tenure at a US university with bevies of nubile research assistants.
As usual you write the most insightful post of the thread!
I'd just like to point out that the tenure pay is often not the determining factor, but it's the kind of money you can spend on staff and equipment and having few other responsibilities than pure research that draw the top researchers.
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