Autonomy in higher education

Abstract

Higher education system is getting more complex due to the recent growth and development. There has been an ongoing debate over the governmental structures of higher education institutions. Current international debate reveals a widespread institutional tendency to shift from centralized to decentralized system in higher education sector. The aim of the paper is to provide global trends related to autonomy and university autonomy and to outline the concept of autonomy. The study also seeks to provide long-term vision for the higher education sector related to university autonomy. The study concludes that there is heightened awareness among university leaders and policy makers that university autonomy is the keystone for an effective and efficient higher education sector. It also summarizes that universities in the UK can freely decide on all aspects of administrative structures. Higher education institutions in Netherlands are largely free to decide on all organizational, financial, staffing and academic issues. Universities in France are perceived to lack freedom of action in nearly all areas of organizational, financial, staffing, and academic issues.