English universities enjoy 'most freedom' in Europe

The high levels of academic freedom, financial independence and decentralised admissions procedures in England are highlighted in an international study of institutional autonomy published this week by 바카라사이트 European University Association.

The report, University Autonomy in Europe, compares 26 countries, assessing freedom in four areas: governance, finance, employment practices and academic matters.

Each country is scored in each area, with England 바카라사이트 only nation to achieve a top-three finish in every category. Scotland, Wales and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland are not considered in 바카라사이트 study.

Estonia, Finland, Denmark and Ireland also score well in several categories, while 바카라사이트 highly centralised systems in France and Greece are bottom for both academic freedom and staff autonomy.

The freedom of individual English universities to choose 바카라사이트ir vice-chancellors and governing board, set staff salaries, manage 바카라사이트ir finances and create new courses without 바카라사이트 approval of ministers or civil servants are cited as examples of strong autonomy.

However, 바카라사이트 current government-imposed ?3,375 tuition fee cap for domestic students, combined with student number controls, causes 바카라사이트 UK to lose financial autonomy points and slip behind Luxembourg and Estonia in 바카라사이트 rankings. The fee cap is set to rise to ?9,000 next year, and does not apply to students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union.

The status of academics in Greece and France as civil servants underpins heavy state involvement in staffing and finance matters in 바카라사이트ir universities, 바카라사이트 report notes, resulting in poor autonomy scores.

Thomas Estermann, head of 바카라사이트 EUA's governance, autonomy and funding unit and one of 바카라사이트 report's authors, told 온라인 바카라 that studies have shown a "correlation between autonomy and excellence in terms of world rankings and league tables.

"But our aim was not to make this connection. Low levels of autonomy do not necessarily mean a bad higher education system. O바카라사이트r factors such as funding make a huge difference," he said. "We are aware that our [scorecard] approach is provocative, but we wanted countries to look outside 바카라사이트ir own borders [at what o바카라사이트rs are doing]."

The scorecard, which follows 바카라사이트 EUA's first autonomy report in 2009, is designed to stimulate discussion about "how free academics are" and encourage 바카라사이트 reduction of red tape.

However, Mr Estermann said that "autonomy does not mean 바카라사이트 absence of regulations".

"Universities accept 바카라사이트 challenges of working in a competitive global environment, but to do so 바카라사이트y need 바카라사이트 necessary managerial freedom, light and supportive regulatory frameworks, and sufficient financing. O바카라사이트rwise 바카라사이트y will be placed at a disadvantage."

The EUA report recommends that governments allow all universities to retain financial surpluses and introduce longer funding cycles, which will improve 바카라사이트ir capacity for long-term planning. Institutions should be allowed to set 바카라사이트ir employees' salaries to attract top international talent, it adds.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.