In theory, the charter school concept is based on a trade-off or exchange: greater autonomy for increased accountability. Although charter schools have been operating for more than 10 years, little is known about charter school autonomy in practice. This mixed-methods study used survey and case study data to examine the degree of autonomy of…

This paper is based on the work of an expert team invited by the Ministry of Education of Finland to develop criteria and an evaluation framework for societal and economic engagement for use in university performance management. The paper maps out possible indicators for the societal and economic engagement of universities in the light of national…

As tuitions continue to rise, Congress is looking for ways to mitigate the costs of college attendance for students and their families. Legislators are giving particular scrutiny to how colleges spend money from their endowments, which have grown significantly over the past decade. Some lawmakers have proposed that institutions with endowments of…

This article presents a brief historical overview on the origin and development of institutional autonomy and academic freedom in the United States of America and in Latin America. Such overview allows the reader to contrast two different geographical contexts, as well as different and even opposing opinions concerning the meaning of the concepts…

This book explores how to forge policies that preserve the internal autonomy required for campus creativity and diversity while ensuring the external accountability demanded for campus performance and results. It attempts to separate the reality and rhetoric of performance funding. The chapters are: (1) "The New Accountability"; (2)…

Describes the increasing openness of French higher education and the move toward increasing autonomy at French institutions of higher education. Describes the incentive mechanisms of the French system and the need for an even greater degree of autonomy. (SLD)

The office and functions of the university visitor in Britain have deep-seated origins in the common law. The visitorial jurisdiction is exclusive in domestic and internal matters. Despite cases brought by disgruntled members of universities, the office of the university visitor was not abolished, and its powers were not eliminated. Analyzes these…

Explores academic freedom in religiously based institutions, including eight social or semi-philosophical considerations to bear in mind during such exploration (modern society, religious pluralism and democracy, civil society, education, religion, the academy, ideas, and personhood). Defends the right of such institutions to attach religious…

Examines the development of a charter secondary school that features a personal learning contract between the student, school, and family, with students promoted irrespective of age by public presentation of portfolios and exhibitions. Describes the effort required to start the school, dilemmas in planning, challenges in providing appropriate…

This paper aims to re-examine the effects of funding on university autonomy since the relationship between university autonomy and funding is likely to be interpreted as a linear effect; namely, the more funding the greater autonomy. Such a simplistic vision is less than complete since it ignores the complicated nature of university autonomy. The…

In this paper the authors argue that the use of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) in the implementation of the Bologna process presents coordination problems that do not allow for the full coherence of the results. As the process is quite complex, involving three different levels (European, national and local) and as the final actors in the…

As a result of reforms over the past two decades, institutional arrangements for upper secondary education in England are both marketised and competitive compared with other European systems. Since 1997, the Labour Government has broadly sustained this position. However, recent policy documents recognise that 14-19 education and training will…

On September 19, 2005, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings announced the formation of a Commission on the Future of Higher Education. Over the next two years, the Commission's activities were comprehensively reported and widely debated in the media, and vigorous discussions of the Commission continue. The Commission's Report…

This paper examined university educational service delivery strategy in a changing world as it affects ethical values and leadership integrity in Nigeria. This was for the purpose of determining appropriate strategies for improving the quality of service delivery system in Nigerian universities. The paper submits that the quality and quantity of…

The first part of this paper addresses two broad aspects of the current reforms in Croatian higher education. The reforms are largely driven by the desire to achieve harmony with the European Area of Higher Education. Special attention is paid to presentation of the first experiences with implementation of the Bologna process in Croatia, which…