Relationship between Internationalization and Quality of University Research

Abstract

This paper has twofold aim: (i) profiling the “research groups” at the University of Barcelona (UB) in order to identify the key success factors of the groups that could be labeled as “Excellent”; (ii) and assessing the relationship between the quality of the research and the internationalization degree of the group. A factor analysis determines the dimensions that characterize the research groups. A cluster analysis determines the profiles of these groups. Finally, a regression finds the relation between the quality of their scientific production and the internationalization. Three cluster types or styles were identified. One of the clusters stood out by virtue of the impact of its publications and in terms of the general quality of its output. These "excellent" groups attain high degree of both at the same time: quality in their research and international collaboration. This article is one of the first to assess the impact of international collaboration in the scientific production of the universities.