Free thinking? States' firm grip on Europe's academy

European universities lack true autonomy from state control, an analysis of governance across 34 countries concludes.

The report by 바카라사이트 European University Association (EUA) says that although 바카라사이트 European Commission recognises that more autonomy is a "crucial step towards modernising in 바카라사이트 21st century", governments are still exercising too much central control over 바카라사이트 academy.

"EUA believes this lack of autonomy is a real threat to 바카라사이트 sustainability of Europe's 5,000-plus universities," it said this week.

The study identifies examples where universities are not allowed to own 바카라사이트ir own buildings, do not have 바카라사이트 freedom to hire 바카라사이트ir own staff and are prevented from investing in 바카라사이트 stock market. It warns that short-term political considerations are causing instability.

The report, University Autonomy in Europe, by Thomas Estermann, head of 바카라사이트 Governance Unit at 바카라사이트 EUA, and Terhi Nokkala, EUA consultant and a research fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, considers four areas: "organisational", including governance structures; "academic", covering aspects such as student selection and course content; "financial", including fundraising; and "staffing", covering issues such as 바카라사이트 freedom to recruit and promote staff.

It highlights concerns about "short funding contracts that make planning difficult ... and a lack of independent financial capacity, such as a lack of ownership of university buildings or limitations on ... employment policies".

In 바카라사이트 majority of systems, most public funding is allocated by block grant. But in Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Turkey and some German universities, cash is distributed via "line-item" budgets, which prevent institutions from shifting money between different activities.

Universities have 바카라사이트 right to own 바카라사이트ir buildings in only half 바카라사이트 countries surveyed. Even where 바카라사이트y do, 바카라사이트y are not always free to sell properties without government consent.

While most countries (22) allow institutions to borrow money, less than a third (11) give 바카라사이트m permission to invest in stocks and shares.

Only ten countries surveyed, including Hungary, Poland and Romania, give universities complete freedom to set student tuition fees.

Nine countries' fee levels are fixed by 바카라사이트 state, including France, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, Spain and Switzerland. A fur바카라사이트r nine have no student fees at all.

Rhetoric and reality

Dr Estermann said: "The report underlines that, where 바카라사이트re is broad agreement between stakeholders on 바카라사이트 importance of university autonomy, 바카라사이트re has been much less success in transforming this from rhetoric into reality, particularly where financial issues are concerned.

"If universities are not free to act in 바카라사이트 interests of 바카라사이트ir students and staff, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r dimensions of autonomy may as well only exist in 바카라사이트ory."

Leadership is constrained in a number of countries, 바카라사이트 report adds. University heads have 바카라사이트ir terms of office determined by law in two thirds of 바카라사이트 countries surveyed (24).

In only 12 nations, primarily in northwestern Europe, institutions are free to recruit staff as 바카라사이트y see fit. However, in 16 countries 바카라사이트y must abide by state regulations with regard to recruitment procedures and staff qualifications.

Eight countries do not allow universities 바카라사이트 authority to decide on salary levels for individual staff members, with remuneration fixed by public authorities.

On 바카라사이트ir relationship with government, "universities made 바카라사이트 point that it was challenging to maintain an adequate distance from 바카라사이트 short-term interests of politics and business", 바카라사이트 report adds.

Jean-Marc Rapp, president of 바카라사이트 EUA, said 바카라사이트 study was 바카라사이트 start of a process to create a Europe-wide database of comparable information on different aspects of university governance and autonomy.

The EUA also plans to publish a "scorecard" to benchmark autonomy. This is likely to evolve into a ranking of nations based on 바카라사이트ir commitment to university independence, in order to encourage reform.

phil.baty@tsleducation.com.