1. Autonomy and Accountability – New Models of Institutional Autonomy
Presentation to the International Seminar „The University of the 21st Century – Emerging Models of Independence“
Novi Sad, October 2005
Dr. Josef Lange, State Secretary, Ministry for Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, Hannover, Germany

2. Challenges by Changes
Expansion of the higher education sector for more than one third of an age-group: „democratisation of higher education“
Internationalisation of economy and science: „globalisation“
Development of science based society: „knowledge economy“
Competition for reputation, persons and funds
Speed of change and innovations: science (research and development), organization, funding
© J. Lange

3. Challenges for Universities
Competition (regional, national, international):
reputation
scientists, young researchers, students: “brain gain/ circulation”
funding for research and teaching
basic funding (on federal state‘s level)
Concentration (staff and resources) on strengths by setting priorities and posteriorities
Cooperation in all fields: strategic alliances
Corporate identity in tension between individual and institutional autonomy
© J. Lange

4. Challenges for Universities require (1)
Concepts and strategic planning: diversification according to different expectations of
students
labour market
science (R & D)
HEI’s stakeholders (= society,state, foundation, members, etc.)
Connecting universities and society: responsibility, accountability, periodic reporting to government, parliament, the public
© J. Lange

5. Challenges for Universities require (2)
responsibility and accountability of universities for
students (and their lifetime)
quality of research, teaching and degrees
public funds = taxpayers‘ money: effectivity and efficiency
individual freedom of research and teaching
development of knowledge and science
problem-defining and -solving for society
© J. Lange

6. Universities need autonomy in
Selecting and admitting students
Hiring staff
Financing from different sources: State, research funds, teaching funds = fees, private income (donations, own companies, etc.)
Internal distribution of funding according to profiles and performance
Organizing their internal structure according to different needs and expectations
© J. Lange

7. Universities need
Distance to the State: due to the speed of change in higher education and research politics and administration cannot organize science in an apropriate way
Different models of autonomy according to the different legal, social and financial situation in various countries: individual solutions for countries and universities
Diversification according to role and mission
Setting priorities and posteriorities coordinated with other universities within the State
© J. Lange

8. Tasks of Modern States concerning Universities in State Responsibility (1)
HE as a public good in public responsibility - ministry as a “holding” of State-universities
Providing legal structures:
- organisation follows tasks: individual solutions for universities, ensuring a common framework
- personal responsibility and accountability: definition and differentiation of functions - advice, decision, control;
- tension between professional management / leadership and academic participation (“demo-cracy” in university)
© J. Lange

9. Tasks of Modern States concerning Universities in State Responsibility (2)
Providing resources, reliable for several years, according to
- role and mission
- performance in student / graduate numbers - differentiated to disciplines, research and develop-ment (incl. education & training of young acad.)
- effectivity and efficiency of using funds
- contract management between State and universities on several years
Setting rules for university income from private sources
© J. Lange

10. Quality Assurance of Higher Education Institutions
Regulation Quality of
Allocation of resources contents, organi-
Standards sation, results,
Controlling processes
Transparency - Consulting - Competition
Evaluation/Accreditation
© J. Lange

11. University of the future (1)
Improvement of quality and performance by competition:
Individual profile through differenciation: adaptable struktures for persons - strategic planning for innovation and networking: internally, other universities, research institutes, companies, society
Framework for technical, social, institutional, mental innovations: science = „expectation of the unexpected“
© J. Lange

12. The University of the future (2)
develop an individual profile by institutional diver-sification and strategic cooperation
work in and be organised for interdisciplinary groups - based on solid specialisation
be open-minded for international and intercultu-ral cooperation and regard its local responsibility
integrate information and communication tech-nology, supporting not substituting the campus
develop and defend institutional autonomy and corporate identity to guarantee individual freedom
© J. Lange

13. Thank you for your
attention!
© J. Lange