Autonomy of University in European Perspective: Threats and Obligations Walter Berka University Salzburg

The Rhetoric of Autonomy Recent trends in higher education –Quality Assurance –Internationalization –and: Autonomy EUA Lisbon declaration 2007 –Autonomy of universities is one of the key issues in order to enable Europe to compete with the rest of the world Autonomy –Can be an ambiguous term! –Can universities be autonomous at all? –Can we neglect the diversity of higher education in Europe?

Autonomy and the State Universities as state agencies –Strict state control and centralised educational steering –Reduced by traditional forms of self- administration and participation A change in the pattern of university governance –Universities as self-governing institutions –Institutional autonomy Cornerstones of institutional autonomy –Organisational autonomy –Financial autonomy –Autonomy in educational affairs –Personnel autonomy University State University State

Autonomy and Money Autonomy as a synonym for distributing public poverty? The lack of public funds as obstacle and argument against autonomy? Or: Make the best with short means by autonomous decisions? Privatisation of higher education and its impact on autonomy –Can support autonomy versus the state –Increases the influence of market forces –The need for adequate public funding –The temptation of turning back the clock University State Market

Autonomy and Accountablity Educational Accountability –Consumer oriented accountability –Professional accountability –Legal accountability Legal accountability –New instruments of governance are necessary –But also new attitudes and cultures –The example of performance contracts between universities and government in Austria –The responsibility of the state for educational goals and strategic planning Maintaining state responsibility for HE can be a special challenge for states whose university system is fragmented

Conclusions Autonomy of universities is not a clear-cut solution, it is rather a program which has to be wisely implemented There is a need for balanced solutions, which are especially difficult in countries which face major social and economic challenges “The university has always been the successful historical response to the sceptical question whether or not science can be organized” (Wolfgang Mantl)