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

2. 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?

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

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

5. INSTRUMENTS
Normative instruments
Policy instruments
Practice

6. 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

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

8. PRACTICE
Cooperation with stakeholders
Information
Awareness raising

9. 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