Universities between Public Values and Commercialisation Lesley Wilson Secretary General European University Association (EUA) EAIE Session 8.06, Torino, 17 September 2004

…2… 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 growing they 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?…

…3… 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?

…4… What are the new revenues? Increasing contribution to the costs of HEd from private sources – students & their families – a debate on fees across Europe Different fees at different levels of study, programmes, institutions & for different groups of students (international students, executive/continuing education etc.) Private sector partnerships BUT Different national traditions Varied role of the state (new v. old member states?) Different levels of international exposure

…5… Potential Impact VALUES Higher education increasingly viewed as a private not a social benefit or indeed a public responsibility Changing 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? MISSION Shift in research priorities: balance between blue sky & contract research research practice ( public accessibility, publication and exchange of results) Increasing professionalisation & specialisation of HEd/research

…6… Potential Impact (cont) MANAGEMENT Change in the nature and organisation of academic work Reliance on professional management & leadership –more bureaucratic control? Weakened internal governance/academic autonomy Greater 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

…7… Opportunities & Threats to Academic Values OPPORTUNITIES Increased differentiation & more mission specificity Entrepreneurial & more efficient institutional management More autonomy & less state intervention??? But more regulation?? Spreading the risk, reduced threats > change in 1 income source THREATS To equity & access, To universities’ capacity to respond to public & social priorities Lack of motivation among teachers & researchers More difficult to ensure institutional coherence & fair allocation of resources Loss of academic freedom, right to publish etc.

…8… 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 staff Ensure the involvement of the academic community in all change and reform processes Promote the measured involvement of stakeholders

…9… Appropriate Responses (II) Promote awareness of importance of internal quality development to be able to respond to external accountability requirements More networking & collaboration between institutions, especially at Master & PhD level Make academic/scientific careers more attractive Tension between values & function defines the university –sceptical, critical, & preparing students for reality ……