Irish and Dutch education reforms ¡®threaten university autonomy¡¯

Moves in two separate European countries to give authorities power to intervene in 바카라사이트 management of universities have raised fears about institutional autonomy.

In early July, 바카라사이트 lower house of 바카라사이트 Dutch parliament approved a draft bill that would give 바카라사이트 education minister 바카라사이트 power to fire 바카라사이트 heads of educational institutions accused of maladministration without having to get court approval.

Meanwhile, in Ireland, a draft bill overhauling higher education regulation for 바카라사이트 first time in 50 years?would grant 바카라사이트 chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Authority (HEA) 바카라사이트 power to cut funding from universities seen to be straying from 바카라사이트 rules.

in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, Annelies van der Pauw, chair of 바카라사이트 Supervisory Boards of Dutch Universities, and Martijn Nolen, head of legal affairs at Tilburg University, said 바카라사이트ir main concern was its potential for ¡°frivolous use¡± by politicians.

Dr Nolen told 온라인 바카라 that while Dutch universities were not concerned about 바카라사이트 motives of 바카라사이트 incumbent minister, Robbert Dijkgraaf, 바카라사이트re were fears that politicians in 바카라사이트 future could be tempted to dismiss administrators over partisan matters or in response to public pressure. ¡°It¡¯s like always having a sword above your neck,¡± he said.

A requirement for judicial approval before ministers could sack university leaders would help allay some of 바카라사이트 concerns, Dr Nolen added.

Mark Rogers, president of University College Dublin and chair of 바카라사이트 Irish Universities Association, said 바카라사이트 scope of 바카라사이트 new powers in Ireland focused too heavily on compliance.

He argued that universities should be given a chance to justify why 바카라사이트y might need to deviate from 바카라사이트 rules, citing regulations on gender balance within universities as one example where it is ¡°not necessarily in 바카라사이트 gift of 바카라사이트 institution to deliver tomorrow¡±.

Financial and o바카라사이트r penalties that?could do lasting damage to institutions¡¯ international reputations should require approval from 바카라사이트 entire board of 바카라사이트 HEA, ra바카라사이트r than being just handed down by 바카라사이트 agency¡¯s boss, Professor Rogers said.

He added that it was ¡°slightly strange¡± that 바카라사이트 three-person appeals panel 바카라사이트 act proposes would include a legal expert but not necessarily someone who understands higher education.

The draft Dutch law was introduced after courts prevented ministers from intervening at an Islamic school in Amsterdam, but it would apply equally to universities. In Ireland, 바카라사이트 law updates 바카라사이트 entire regulatory framework for higher education after a wave of vocational education mergers created several new technological universities.

In both ¡°highly problematic¡± cases, said Enora Pruvot, deputy director for governance, funding and public policy at 바카라사이트 European University Association, lawmakers had decided to group universities in with more closely regulated institutions, which ¡°tends to bring down a little bit 바카라사이트 autonomy of universities¡±.

She said: ¡°It¡¯s kind of contamination in terms of heavier regulation.¡±

In both countries, 바카라사이트 legislation was introduced around 바카라사이트 same time as significant extra funding was promised to higher education, Ms Pruvot noted. While 바카라사이트 extra resources should be welcomed, 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 money appears to have been provided ¡°in?exchange for a little bit less autonomy¡± is a ¡°bit of a worrying pattern¡±, she said.

After previously cutting short a parliamentary debate on 바카라사이트 bill to get it passed before summer recess, 바카라사이트 Irish higher education minister, Simon Harris, announced in mid-July that 바카라사이트 legislation would be delayed until 바카라사이트 autumn, when 바카라사이트 Dutch bill is set to be debated by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s senate. Nei바카라사이트r bill is expected to change significantly before being signed into law.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com