ACADEMIC AUTONOMY IN GREEK UNIVERSITIES. A CASE STUDY COMPARED TO EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES

Auteurs

  • Ourania Bousiou Dr., Administrative Staff, Directorate PR and Extroversion, University of Patras, Patras, Greece Tutor School of Humanities, Hellenic Open University, Greece
  • George Stamelos Professor, Dr., Faculty Member, Department of Educational Sciences and Social Work, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
  • Haris Lambropoulos Assistant Professor, Dr., Faculty Member, Department of Educational Sciences and Social Work, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejefr.v9i3.2018

Trefwoorden:

Greek universities, higher education, university autonomy, academic autonomy, European University Association (EUA)

Samenvatting

Academic autonomy is a fundamental aspect of university governance, affecting key areas such as student admissions, curriculum design, teaching language, and quality assurance. This paper explores the degree of academic autonomy in European higher education institutions, with a particular focus on Greece. It examines the extent to which universities have control over student intake, admission criteria, and the introduction of new courses. Furthermore, it discusses the impact of governmental regulations on academic decision-making and compares Greece's approach with other European countries. The findings highlight significant constraints on Greek universities in determining student numbers and structuring courses, emphasizing the role of the Ministry of Education in shaping higher education policies.

 

JEL: I23, I25, I28, H52, A23

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter

Biografieën auteurs

Referenties

Choi, S. (2019). University autonomy and the public good: A comparative perspective. Higher Education Quarterly, 73(4), 378–392.

European Commission. (2023). Towards a European Degree: Pathways to Institutional Transformation. Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture.

Estermann, T. & Nokkala, T. (2009). University Autonomy in Europe I, Exploratory Study. http://www.rkrs.si/gradiva/dokumenti/EUA_Autonomy_Report_Final.pdf

Estermann, T., Nokkala, T. & Steinel, M. (2011). University Autonomy in Europe II. The scorecard. Brussels. European University Association. ISBN: 978-9-0789-9730-6. https://www.eua.eu/resources/publications/401:university-autonomy-in-europe-ii-the-scorecard.html

Estermann, T. (2012). University Autonomy in Europe II - The Scorecard. European University Association. Retrieved from https://www.eua.eu/downloads/publications/university%20autonomy%20in%20europe%20ii%20-%20the%20scorecard.pdf

Estermann, T., Nokkala, T., & Steinel, M. (2023). University Autonomy in Europe III: The Scorecard 2023. European University Association.

Felt, U., Glanz, M. (2002). University Autonomy in Europe: Changing Paradigms in Higher Education Policy, in Managing University Autonomy, Collective Decision Making and Human Resources Policy, Bolonia University Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/University_autonomy_in_Europe.html?id=C5AvOQAACAAJ&redir_esc=y

Greere, A. (2022). Training for quality assurance in higher education: practical insights for effective design and successful delivery. Quality in Higher Education, 29(2), 165–191. https://doi.org/10.1080/13538322.2021.2020978

Hoareau, C., Ritzen, J., & Marconi, G. (2013). Higher education and economic innovation, a European-wide comparison. IZA Journal of European Labor Studies, 2, 24. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275483988_Higher_education_and_economic_innovation_a_comparison_of_European_countries

Kelo, M. (2014). ‘QA agencies in Europe – establishment, development, trends and priorities’, paper at conference Quality Assurance in Higher Education in Southern Mediterranean Countries: A Tool to Promote International Cooperation, Brussels, Belgium, 28 March.

Kiprianos P. & Politis-Stergiou V. (2016). Governance in Greek higher education from a comparative perspective. Academia, No 7 (2016). https://pasithee.library.upatras.gr/academia/rt/printerFriendly/2706/2968

King, R. (2018). ‘Challenges for quality assurance in higher education: the regulatory turn’, in Hazelkorn, E., Coates, H. & McComick, A.C. (Eds.), 2018, Research Handbook on Quality, Performance and Accountability in Higher Education, pp. 30–41. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781785369759.00011

Kivistö, J. et al. (2019) ‘Performance in Higher Education Institutions and Its Variations in Nordic Policy’, in R. Pinheiro, L. Geschwind, H. F. Hansen et al. (eds.) Reforms, Organizational Change and Performance in Higher Education, pp. 37–67. Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11738-2_2

Law of Greek State 4009/2011 (Government Gazette 195/issue A'/6–9-2011): "Structure, operation, quality assurance of studies and internationalisation of higher education institutions".

Law of Greek State 4076/2012 (Government Gazette 159/issue A'/10–8-2012): "Regulating issues of Higher Education Institutions and other provisions".

Law of Greek State 4316/2014 (Government Gazette 270/issue A'/24–12-2014): «Εstablishment of a dementia observatory, improvement of perinatal care, regulations on matters under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and other provisions»

Matei, L., Iwinska, J. (2018). Diverging Paths? Institutional Autonomy and Academic Freedom in the European Higher Education Area. In: Curaj, A., Deca, L., Pricopie, R. (eds) European Higher Education Area: The Impact of Past and Future Policies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77407-7_22

OECD (2018). Education for a Bright Future in Greece, Reviews of National Policies for Education, OECD Publishing, Paris http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264298750-en

OECD (2022). Resourcing Higher Education in Europe: A Comparative Overview. Paris: OECD Publishing.

Painsi, P. W., Leitner, K. H., & Rybnicek, R. (2025). The impact of institutional autonomy on higher education institutions in Europe. Science and Public Policy, 52(2), 236-253. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scae069

Paradeise, C., & Thoenig, J.-C. (2013). Academic Institutions in Search of Quality: Local Orders and Global Standards. Organization Studies, 34(2), 189-218. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840612473550

Pruvot, E. B., Claeys-Kulik, A.-L., & Estermann, T. (2015). Strategies for Efficient Funding of Universities in Europe. In The European Higher Education Area (pp. 153–168). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20877-0_11

Pruvot, E. B. and Estermann, Th. (2017). University Autonomy in Europe III. The Scorecard 2017. European University Association (EUA). University Autonomy in Europe III: The Scorecard 2017

Reichert, S. (2019). The Role of Universities in Regional Innovation Ecosystems. EUA. Retrieved from https://www.eua.eu/images/pdf/eua_innovation_ecosystem_report.pdf

Ritzen, J. (2016). University autonomy: Improving educational output, IZA World of Labor, Maastricht University, the Netherlands and IZA, Germany. Retrieved from https://wol.iza.org/articles/university-autonomy-improving-educational-output/long

Stamelos, G., Vasilopoulos, A. & Kavasakalis, A. (2015). Introduction to Educational Policies. Retrieved from https://dsep.uop.gr/attachments/Anakoinwseis/STAMELOS_EISAGOGH_EKPAIDEYTIKES_ POLITIKES.pdf. (09-01-2019)

Stamelos G., Lambropoulos H. & Bousiou, O. (2019). The organizational autonomy of Greek universities: an attempt at quantification. Tertiary Education and Management. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11233-019-09051-y

Stamelos G., Lambropoulos H. & Bousiou, O. (2022). The financial autonomy of Greek universities: an attempt at quantification. European Journal of Economic and Financial Research. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejefr.v6i3.1305

Stamelos G., Lambropoulos H. & Bousiou, O. (2022). The staffing autonomy of Greek universities: an attempt at quantification. European Journal of Management and Marketing Studies 7(2). http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejmms.v7i2.1248

Tocto-Cano E, Paz Collado S, López-Gonzales JL. (2025). A Holistic Maturity Model for Quality Assessment and Innovation in Peruvian Universities. Education Sciences. 2025; 15(2):142. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci15020142

Vidal, F. (2013). University Autonomy and the Governance System, Universitat Rovira I Virgili. Retrieved from https://www.regio-coneixement.catedra.urv.cat/media/upload/domain_697/arxius/carpeta%20sense%20nom/University%20autonomy%20and%20governance.pdf

Downloads

Gepubliceerd

2025-08-20

Nummer

Sectie

Articles