PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIGHER EDUCATION Sjur Bergan Head, Dept. of Higher Education and History Teaching Council of Europe

BACKGROUND Traditionally a strong feature of higher education in Europe Reaffirmed by Bologna Ministers in Praha 2010 and Berlin 2003 “Ministers reaffirm their position that higher education is a public good and a public responsibility” (Berlin) Stating the obvious or expressing concern? How to make it a reality in modern society?

ACTORS IN HIGHER EDUCATION Higher education institutions Staff Students Public authorities Non-governmental organizations International organizations Commercial companies

PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT? Framework Exclusive public responsibility Equal opportunities Leading public responsibility Financing Substantial public responsibility Provision

INSTRUMENTS Normative instruments Policy instruments Practice

NORMATIVE INSTRUMENTS Legislation Other normative instruments Codification of policies and goals – not the other way around Limits of legislation: what does it make sense to regulate through legal means? Interpretation of legislation

POLICY INSTRUMENTS Policy papers and declarations Programs (action and policy) Funding

PRACTICE Cooperation with stakeholders Information Awareness raising

PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY IN MODERN SOCIETY Take account of complexity of society Draw on contributions of many actors Recognize autonomy of institutions Recognize that public funding is likely to be insufficient for high performing HE Use variety of instruments to exercise public responsibility