5th Global Conference
Thursday 8th May - Saturday 10th May 2008
Budapest, Hungary
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Session 3: Change and Management in Higher Education
Chair: Sanja Petkovska
Diversifying the Missions of Universities: The Conflict of Government Policies with Institutional and Personal Value Systems of Academics
Frank McMahon
Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland
This paper reviews the extent to which governments have sought to achieve diversity of institutional type and mission of higher education institutions in their national systems of higher education. It analyses the arguments that are advanced in favour of diversity including those related to the need for regional development, meeting the needs of labour markets and accommodating an ever-increasing student demand. The acceptance of these arguments by governments has resulted in the adoption of policies on funding and governance that seek to achieve the necessary diversification.
The resultant pressure on universities causes pressure for change in institutional objectives and combines with other pressures from industry and pan-national organisations that all contribute to the need for new objectives. The dependency of universities on external funding makes it impossible for universities to refuse to accept objectives set by governments or other funding agencies. But the value system of academics and the relentless seeking of prestige by universities are very powerful counter-pressures. Both the multiplicity of objectives and their inconsistency cause difficulties for universities that attempt to achieve them. This paper argues that globalisation trends in higher education are adding to the problems facing university leaders. A possible solution could be found in agreement on a value system that transcends changing objectives and it proposes such a value system based on twin commitments to excellence and the pre-eminence of student welfare.
Complexities of Rising Consumerism & Marketing in Higher Education
Vijaya Deshmukh
Registrar,
National Institute of Design, Paldi, Ahmedabad, India
The management of institutes of higher education emerges as the key challenge. Effectiveness of these institutes depends upon its ability to accomplish three essential aims, namely to achieve its goals, maintain itself internally and adapt to new and ever-changing environment. Reduced funding, coupled with demands for improved efficiency, these institutes have been forced to reduce expenditure, seek new sources of funding and improve utilization of existing resources. This has necessitated changes in the mechanisms, techniques and styles of management. Effective functioning in the present era is conditioned by an effective and productive use of the existing resources. In view of this, it is required to change the traditional way of functioning and imbibe management principles into education.
The crux of the problem lies in the interpretation of the term Business in education. Higher Education is turning out to be a business where it produces and sells educational services to customers for a price and it buys inputs with which to make that product. Costs and revenues determine viability. If business implies expense control, budgeting systems, focus on profits, more bureaucracy or more forms to fill out the triumph of administration over education, then it is to be dreaded. If on the other hand, business implies greater teamwork, greater coordination, empowerment of the suppliers and recipients of education and relevant education, than it has to be embraced wholeheartedly. And modern day business does imply more employee involvement in every step, customer friendly set up, empowerment and experimentation. Challenges to the adoption and implementation of management concepts in educational institutions are several.
Higher Education in Canada: New Millennium, New Students, New Directions
Dale Kirby
Faculty of Education, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
As far back as the middle ages, those who held the reigns of power showed an awareness that all individuals do not have equal opportunities to access higher learning, and that innovative and creative policies can improve access to education.
With the demographic reality of the ‘baby boom’ generation moving toward their retirement years and the graduating high school population in decline, Canada must devote specific attention to increasing the educational participation and attainment levels of disadvantaged and under-represented groups in order to remain or become a competitive knowledge-based economy.
International studies of high school student performance suggest that young Canadian learners are doing well and that our young students are being well equipped to succeed in the future. Yet the same cannot be said of our higher education system – in many respects the Canadian system of higher education is not well suited to meeting the current and future learning needs of many of the country’s citizens.
This paper will reflect on some of the historical origins of higher education and highlight some of the contemporary challenges facing the Canadian system. It will focus on the reasons why Canada needs to develop a higher education system that is democratic, open, affordable, and accessible to all who are qualified and willing to participate, regardless of background. The paper will draw upon current research about the challenges faced by specific groups of Canadians in accessing higher learning options and explore possibilities for increasing educational participation and attainment for Canadians who have traditionally been excluded from the system.
