Interconnected Dimensions of University Autonomy in Europe

Abstract

University autonomy is a multi-dimensional concept. As previous studies have demonstrated, European universities have high levels of autonomy in some dimensions, but their autonomy is more limited in other dimensions. The European University Association (EUA) defines four dimensions of university autonomy: organizational autonomy, financial autonomy, staffing autonomy, and academic autonomy. This paper uses statistical analyses to investigate whether these four dimensions of university autonomy are interconnected. Findings suggest that there is an overall lack of prominent, linear relationships among these dimensions, with the exception of staffing autonomy and academic autonomy, which are significantly positively linked to each other.