Is the autonomy of universities real? A frequently discussed subject in the academic community is "Is the autonomy of universities real?". Are governments trying to limit this autonomy to universities? Is it democratically, for example, a democratically elected Rector of a university to be "approved" by the Minister of Education? Is such a practice known in the world?
Is there equality and justice in the funding of state universities, or are some of them funded as a matter of priority?
I think these are all interesting and important questions for university lecturers, the answers to which can be useful to us. Good experience and good practices would be good to share.
If you mean by "the autonomy of universities " the independence of them from the ministry of higher education, the answer is no. It is neither real nor possible. This is my opinion.
Liqaa
Science, academia and universities are hierarchic systems by the history of learning and knowledge acquisition. Autonomy in and of such a system is unlikely, even if the pressure of markets, money and politics would not exist. However, it should be imperative to organize such institutions of higher learning more self-administrative and self-emergent, to reinforce the spontaneous learning potential. Otherwise, a lot of scientific and human potential capital will get lost in overheads and overcontrol.
I do not think that the subject of university independence is a real issue, and universities are often subject to the country's policy in one way or another
regards
The independence of universities is not a desire or slogan that some users are trying to announce from time to time, but it must be a will, organization, and practice based on basic elements, controls and guarantees.
The independence of universities should not be unlimited without limits but should be exercised within specific frameworks. There should be a balance between the university's need for independence and its obligations towards society.
Therefore, we must speak responsibly about this independence, especially in the countries of the Third World, which lack independence in most of their political, economic and intellectual facilities.
In a system where the political arrangement deems it fit that government structure should take absolute control of the entire machinery, university autonomy seems impossible because there must be interference from the established structure of government. Hence, the quoted autonomy is a mirage.
In my opinion, definitely not!
In the study I did and resulted in my doctoral thesis, it was proved that, in relation to the construction of curricula that involve the training of accountants, universities have lost their legal autonomy.
In our country Algeria no, because our universities are absolutely dependent to the ministry of higher education.
Regards
regarding my country, university autonomy is senseless; there is no real manifestation of it. all universities are dominated and controlled by the ministry of science.
In the USA, there are private universities that are supported through tuition, research grants, special government grants and endowment. State Universities (public) are supported mainly through the State where they are located, tuition, the federal government though major research grants and endowment. Typically private universities are less influenced by government actions but must abide by tax and election laws. State Universities are less independent and their tuition is lower.
Agreed with other respondents. Autonomy of universities at best is for introducing new subjects or disciplines as the need for multi-disciplinary research grows.
No. There is no autonomy in African Universities. Everything is directed by politicians from behind the curtains!
Currently two Government Education Commissions is overseeing Universities in my country. It is a government body which is controlling everything, from degree attestations, all the recruitment, projects/funds allocation, courses offered. If you move from their guidelines, then you are in trouble.
Universities in a country are regulated by a body. So they autonomous 90%. Some universities offer small courses are regulated by other small bodies. Therefore they lose autonomy to those small bodies hence 50% autonomous.
Dear Anton Georgiev ,
The autonomy of a higher educational institution (self-government of a higher educational institution) is the independence of a higher educational institution in the selection and placement of personnel, the implementation of educational, scientific, financial and business and other activities in accordance with the legislation and the charter of a higher educational institution.
The autonomy of a higher educational institution is a university autonomy.
Autonomy is the autonomy, ability or right of a subject to act on the basis of established (made, compiled by himself) principles.
Regards, Shafagat
Not in totality. Not in developing country. Not in a corrupt society.
It depends. Autonomy with respect to the government is always relative. It can not stop being so, because higher education is one of the most important subjects for the modern State and always has a political bias. But autonomy can also be examined against other entities. For example, in Argentina, the public university has great autonomy from the government. But since their own government is democratically elected, political parties intervene in the process, which diminishes their real autonomy.
Very Interesting question and fantastic discussion
Its reactive and in my opinion its not
Dear Artur Braun,
It is true that the government is chosen by taxpayers, but the government is politically elected, while university autonomy requires independence from political party independence from politicians. Politicians often change, and universities have much longer-term goals and tasks. Universities perform public procurement, not political tasks.
Dear Waqas Hassan Tanveer,
control and rules should have, otherwise in the best public system will come chaos. My question is whether the democratically elected Rector of a university is acceptable to need "government approval" and whether the subjective sympathy of the ruling party should affect the funding of universities.
Dear Shafagat Mahmudova Very well said! Thanks! Yours sincerely Anton Georgiev
It is generally agreed today that university autonomy is quintessentially vital in the academic world. The essence of autonomy has been to think and act according to standards from within, not without. However, university autonomy is simply some kind of wishful thinking simply because policymakers cannot reach their dream goals without manipulating the universities in one way or the other. Naturally, the problem is even more critical in undeveloped and developing countries wherein autonomy means less centralized power, a thing that politicians and rulers cannot tolerate.
I agree with Segun. Autonomy and money are interdependent. The more money a university has the less need to depend on government, the more autonomous the university can be.
Yesterday, a news item in UK detailed government concern at the number of firsts being awarded by UK universities, indicating malpractice by the universities in attempting to raise their profiles. This was probably-maybe-only the newer universities anxious to climb the greasy pole of university ranking.
Universities in the UK are in a strange position. On the one hand realistically they are private in a system of college-autonomy, but on the other hand they are funded through grants by the government. The government manages their purse strings and thereby feels the right to interfere and view universities as part of government policy in the same way as schools. Curriculums are subject to government overview. They also have the power to remove their right to award degrees, thereby destroying their funding.
I once attended a government conference on private colleges set up by the Education Minister who let all there know that universities as well as colleges were at risk. That was almost a decade ago. Since, two universities came close to being shut down.
Professor Reza Biria, you are absolutely right. I also think that the academic community has to periodically defend its autonomy.
Professor Dennis Mazur, you are almost right. But often money for universities depends on laws, and laws are made by politicians. In other words, politicians / government / solves almost everything. That is why I think universities have to defend their autonomy periodically.
Professor Stanley Wilkin, Your opinion contains very interesting and valuable information. Personally, I thought that only we / in Eastern Europe / had similar problems.
Thanks!
The autonomy of the University of Bosnia and Herzegovina does not exist. At my university for promotion to the academic rank (assistant professor, associate professor, full professor) there must be agreement of the minister of education. I have no comments for this ...
Professor Nihada Ahmetovic , аnd to me it sounds too weird. I have no words .... Under these circumstances there can not be any autonomy. I hope that soon Bosnia and Herzegovina will be a member of United Europe and then slowly but surely things will come to the places. United Europe has a methodology to force governments to move in the right direction.
Very interesting discussion! Agree with Stanley Wilkin in relaiton to the situation of the UK. A senior colleague of mine once remarked that in the UK at a time of decrease in public funding, government is tightening control, and I agree. The marketization of higher education and the fight for the rankings (on which ultimately public funding depends) created a situation were eminent ("REFable") scholars are overpaid and the quota of students' getting a 1st degree is inflated. The government has a direct responsibility in that. The all system here might soon implode and loose the "prestige" which was characterising higher education in this country. I think autonomy and control should be more carefully balanced.
Professor Viviana Meschitti, thank you for the interesting and useful opinion on the subject of university autonomy. I do not know the UK higher education system so well, but even if there are similar problems ....
Professor Aung Ze Ya, I sincerely thank you for your opinion and your participation in this discussion.
In University can be présent the BIG LECTURER(s) having the autonomy, and
it's a gift of god
sometimes he does not have the post of professor, but his students are waiting for him - 100-150 students, and his students get the ability to analyze, think, and this will give them later and the opportunity to learn the knowledge.
Only this is a veritable Education, the réal influence on the public.
Top universities in well developed countries may have partial autonomy.
It is a contemporary, interactive, necessary and controversial dilemma for the university: -If you need to rely on the economic, scientific, literary and artistic institutions where the community is based to prepare the future graduate in the curricular principles of the pre-employment link of work-study, you must be aware that you inevitably receive the compromising influence of those institutions that nest the future professional and that try to model it in a social framework with the style of its modus operandi and development.
Dear Professor Uche Nnolim,
Yet universities are not just "publicly funded institutions", they are something very different and they are a lot more. The knowledge that universities give to students and the science they create is their most important mission. And here we are not talking about financial relief, but about the freedom of the university to self-regulate - in a scientific and educational aspect. And the criterion for a university's assessment is the achievements of their former students, as well as the interest of the candidate students at the beginning of the school year.
Professor Aung Ze Ya thanks for the competent opinion on this topic!
Professor Carmen Santos Hernández thanks for the competent opinion on this topic!
Professor Doaa El Amrousy, thanks for the good words and the interest shown in the topic!
Professor Pankaj Tomar, thanks for the useful information for one of the most dynamically developing countries.
In my country, University autonomy is not real because the behaviours of the state and federal governments who finance it do not allow the policies of Universities to be autonomous.
Professor Nyakno jimmy George, thanks for your opinion on this topic!
Universities need money to survive and often thereby make some curious choices to obtain it. Beneficiaries can be tyrants or countries and leaders with negligible human rights' records. Acquiring such funds may be deemed necessary in order for universities to compete locally with other universities or with the wealthier universities on the world stage. Education is one of the most prominent wealth producers and its institutions important not only to ensure continued national status but also to promote national products and talent.
All top universities are guilty of the above, some more so than others.
The autonomy of the university is not only significant but also essential. If possible, the rector should be appointed by the President, the highest authority. There are at least four universities in Bangladesh that enjoy the full autonomy. A researcher can produce a good research when he is enjoying full autonomy.
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