Universities between Public Values and

Commercialisation

Lesley WilsonSecretary General

European University Association (EUA)

EAIE Session 8.06, Torino, 17 September 2004

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Universities in a rapidly changing environment: old and new challenges in

higher education

Universities are being asked to play an ever more important role in society & expectations are growingthey are increasingly subject to simultaneous pressures Massification – the greatest expansion of higher education ever Impact on funding commitments & need for diversification of income Globalisation & the growth of transnational education & a global higher

education market Differentiation & implications of plurality Accountability: QA & accreditation – at all levels

How to adapt – without loosing basic humanistic & universalistic values, freedom of enquiry, critical spirit?…

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Basic questions for universities in relation to these challenges

How to do more with less i.e. increase capacity, expand mission and provide more flexible services ?How to respond simultaneously to a decline in public funding & increased accountability requirements? How to cover the significant growth in the costs of research & of specialisation?How to diversify income but avoid becoming dependent on new revenues?How to balance cooperation with competition – at European level, social dimension of Bologna v. push for a more competitive Europe?

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What are the new revenues?

Increasing contribution to the costs of HEd from private sources – students & their families – a debate on fees across EuropeDifferent fees at different levels of study, programmes, institutions & for different groups of students (international students, executive/continuing education etc.) Private sector partnershipsBUTDifferent national traditionsVaried role of the state (new v. old member states?)Different levels of international exposure

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Potential Impact

VALUESHigher education increasingly viewed as a private not a social benefit or indeed a public responsibilityChanging role of the state –what does “higher education as a public responsibility” signify?de facto decease in autonomy thro’ increase in regulation?More competition both for students & research monies?

MISSIONShift in research priorities: balance between blue sky & contract research research practice ( public accessibility, publication and exchange of results)Increasing professionalisation & specialisation of HEd/research

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Potential Impact (cont)

MANAGEMENT

Change in the nature and organisation of academic workReliance on professional management & leadership –more bureaucratic control?Weakened internal governance/academic autonomyGreater reliance on short term contract staff (“the deteriorating guru”, P.Altbach)Loss of institutional identity

INCLUSION OF HEd IN THE GATS

Viewing higher education as a tradable service

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Opportunities & Threats to Academic Values

OPPORTUNITIESIncreased differentiation & more mission specificityEntrepreneurial & more efficient institutional managementMore autonomy & less state intervention??? But more regulation??Spreading the risk, reduced threats > change in 1 income source

THREATSTo equity & access, To universities’ capacity to respond to public & social prioritiesLack of motivation among teachers & researchersMore difficult to ensure institutional coherence & fair allocation of resourcesLoss of academic freedom, right to publish etc.

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Some appropriate responses (I)

Encourage universities to consider their mission and to generate funds from a variety of different sources Ensure strong institutional leadership based on community building & strengthening identification of staffEnsure the involvement of the academic community in all change and reform processesPromote the measured involvement of stakeholders

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Appropriate Responses (II)

Promote awareness of importance of internal quality development to be able to respond to external accountability requirementsMore networking & collaboration between institutions, especially at Master & PhD levelMake academic/scientific careers more attractive

Tension between values & function defines the university –sceptical, critical, & preparing students for reality ……