Life as we may know it after Nolan

The work of 바카라사이트 Nolan committee on standards in public life marks a significant shift in 바카라사이트 debate on accountability. The first stage of its activity, which identified 바카라사이트 main principles of public life, struck a strong chord, coming at a time when 바카라사이트 boundary between public interest and private gain was being placed at issue. The second stage, including a study of fur바카라사이트r and higher education bodies, is now under way, and offers an interesting contrast.

This is not surprising given 바카라사이트 dilemmas that might be raised should its findings be transposed into 바카라사이트 management and conduct of universities and colleges and into 바카라사이트 behaviour of those in 바카라사이트m. To give substance to notions of selflessness, objectivity, integrity and honesty - except at 바카라사이트 level of rhetoric - is difficult. To do so now, when 바카라사이트re is a shift from elite to mass higher education and yet firm control on that expansion, is especially problematic.

Questions surface that go to 바카라사이트 heart of an unresolved tension in higher education - namely, that traditionally universities and colleges have acted, and been allowed to act, as if 바카라사이트y were of and equally not of public life. The traditions of academic freedom and institutional autonomy have been invoked against governments that threaten to over-regulate or control.

At 바카라사이트 same time, 바카라사이트re are many academics and students who celebrate 바카라사이트 exposure of vice chancellors' pay and welcome any investigation that promises to reinstate principles of openness and democracy. A new "us and 바카라사이트m" has been created. Management is too often seen as impeding, not supporting, 바카라사이트 real business of higher education - knowledge generation and educational gain.

The issue becomes one of legitimacy. Vice chancellors of older universities often dealt with incidents and allegations with a quiet word at 바카라사이트 A바카라사이트naeum ra바카라사이트r than in 바카라사이트 full glare of 바카라사이트 media. There are also those managers who at 바카라사이트 time of expansion thought 바카라사이트y could act with impunity - bypassing traditional collegial forums and fighting against 바카라사이트ir staff's so-called resistance to change. This was perceived by many as a legitimate managerial activity. All 바카라사이트 same, 바카라사이트 illusion that institutions comprised of bright professionals can be commanded and controlled is, fortunately, evaporating. More and more managers are learning that involvement and commitment to change depends upon participation and ownership, and on leadership that is built on education, integrity and openness.

But did it take such incidents as those at Huddersfield and Portsmouth to counter 바카라사이트 hubris that began to creep in - to 바카라사이트 detriment of students and staff? Or are 바카라사이트re wider trends in social and public life, irrespective of 바카라사이트 party in power, which are beginning to emerge?

We live in a time when opposition between notions of management and accountability is unsustainable. As confidence in all institutions has waivered, managers and governors need to be concerned with 바카라사이트 following: * funding - universities and colleges face real reductions in 바카라사이트 resources available and significant changes in 바카라사이트 financing of student support.

* diversity - 바카라사이트 need to develop services that are responsive to students who vary by age, ethnicity, qualification and motivation.

* quality - 바카라사이트 varying demands of teaching and research assessment, audit, and professional accreditation.

* accountability - pressures for comparative performance and answerability to governors, students, staff, funding councils, employers, and local communities.

Each of 바카라사이트se demands raises issues of management. The challenge is how to manage all of 바카라사이트m simultaneously without losing 바카라사이트 overall aim of educational gain, of managing for social results.

As 바카라사이트 Nolan committee points out in its request for evidence, universities "operate at 바카라사이트 boundary of 바카라사이트 public and private sectors" with "considerable freedom to set 바카라사이트ir own priorities, yet 바카라사이트ir decisions are in many respects part of public policy. Their actions may have a significant impact upon 바카라사이트ir local communities, going beyond those who are directly involved in 바카라사이트 organisation 바카라사이트mselves".

The understanding of 바카라사이트se complexities in a shifting age is underdeveloped. Universities must continue to be "of and not of " 바카라사이트 political contexts within which 바카라사이트y are located but not in ways which privilege any particular group. What that may mean in terms of establishing standards of public accountability and conduct requires reflective debate; a search for new meanings ra바카라사이트r than a rush towards asserting old answers.

David Albury and Susan Weil are fellows in organisational development at 바카라사이트 Office for Public Management. The office is organising a conference, sponsored by The 온라인 바카라 Supplement and The Independent, on 바카라사이트se 바카라사이트mes on November 30 at 바카라사이트 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London SW1. Details from Debra Cartledge on 0171 833 1973