An Overview of Autonomy in Higher Education: A Systematic Review of the Meaning, Dimensions, Challenges, and Future Directions of Autonomy
Article Sidebar
Page Numbers:
209-223
Digital Object Identifier:
10.58578/edumalsys.v3i2.6270
Viewed: 626 times
Downloaded: 229 times
LYAS Publisher cordially invites qualified professionals to serve as Editors or Reviewers. Your expertise will make an important contribution to maintaining and strengthening the academic quality of our publications. Interested applicants are kindly requested to complete the application form at the following link: Editors & Reviewers
Please feel free to contact us if you need any further information about the submission process or if you have any additional questions.
Authors:
Samson Worku Teshome1* 
Copyright :
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication.
Main Article Content
Abstract
Autonomy in higher education has become a central focus in academic discourse as institutions confront the evolving demands of globalization, accountability, and governance reform. This systematic literature review synthesizes current research on the concept of autonomy in higher education, examining its definitions, core dimensions, prevailing challenges, and future trajectories. Employing the PRISMA framework, a comprehensive search and selection process resulted in the inclusion of 44 scholarly articles. The analysis identifies four principal dimensions of institutional autonomy: academic, financial, organizational, and staffing. Key challenges include the tension between autonomy and accountability, increasing external pressures from governments and market forces, and the implications of internationalization. The review also outlines emerging directions for research and practice, including the development of adaptive governance frameworks and the strategic use of digital technologies to strengthen institutional independence. The findings emphasize the role of autonomy in promoting innovation, academic excellence, and institutional resilience amidst growing global and regulatory pressures. This review offers valuable insights for policymakers, university leaders, and scholars, contributing to the broader dialogue on higher education governance.
Citation Metrics:
Downloads
Article Details
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
References
Akalu, G. A. (2014). Higher education in Ethiopia: Expansion, quality assurance and institutional autonomy. Higher Education Quarterly, 68(4), 394-415. https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12036
Alderman, G. (1996). Audit, assessment and academic autonomy. Higher Education Quarterly, 50(3), 178-192.
Alexiadou, N., & Rönnberg, L. (2022). Reading the internationalization imperative in higher education institutions: External contexts and internal positionings. Higher Education Policy. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41307-021-00259-5
Altbach, P. G. (2013). The international imperative in higher education (Global perspectives on higher education). Sense Publishers.
Amare, A., & Tadelle, H. (2015). Governance reforms in higher education of Ethiopia: The case of autonomy and accountability in Addis Ababa University. Ethiopian Journal of Development Research, 37(1), Article 1.
Andersen, T. J. (2000). Strategic planning, autonomous actions and corporate performance. Long Range Planning, 33(2), 184-200.
Anderson, D., Johnson, R., & Training, E. (1998). University autonomy in twenty countries. Department of Employment Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Canberra, 14.
Antonowicz, D., & Jongbloed, B. W. A. (2015). University governance reform in the Netherlands, Austria, and Portugal: Lessons for Poland. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283073068
Ayres, K. (2023). Applying a data-driven niche market strategy to UK higher education. Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2013.764761
Barnett, R. (2011). The coming of the ecological university. Oxford Review of Education, 37(4), 439-455. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2011.595550
Belgaroui, R., & Ben Hamad, S. (2021). The good practices of academic autonomy as a mechanism of governance and performance of higher education institutions: Case of the University of Sfax. International Journal of English Literature and Social Sciences, 6(1), 177-184.
Bladh, A. (2007). Institutional autonomy with increasing dependency on outside actors. Higher Education Policy, 20, 243-259.
Bleiklie, I., & Michelsen, S. (2013). Comparing HE policies in Europe: Structures and reform outputs in eight countries. Higher Education, 65, 113-133.
Brock, D. M. (1997). Strategy, autonomy, planning mode, and effectiveness: A contingency study of business schools. International Journal of Educational Management, 11(6), 248-259.
Bothma, F., & Rossouw, J. P. (2019). The accountability and professional security of the South African higher education lecturer. South African Journal of Higher Education, 33(2), 29-51. https://doi.org/10.20853/33-2-2463
Campbell, A., & Gorgodze, S. (2016). Internationalization of Georgian higher education: National and international influences. Hungarian Educational Research Journal, 6(1), 21-36. https://doi.org/10.14413/HERJ.2016.01.02
Carvalho, T., & Diogo, S. (2018). Exploring the relationship between institutional and professional autonomy: A comparative study between Portugal and Finland. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 40(1), 18-33.
Casadevall, A. F. (1978). Planning and university autonomy. Western European Education, 10(3), 79-89.
Chen, S., Wang, H., & Yang, K. (2009). Establishment and application of performance measure indicators for universities. The TQM Journal, 21(3), 220-235.
Cheng, M. (2012). Accountability and professionalism: A contradiction in terms? Higher Education Research and Development, 31(6), 785-795. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2011.653960
Davids, N. (2021). Academic freedom and the fallacy of a post-truth era. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 1183-1193.
Elbanna, S. (2013). Processes and impacts of strategic management: Evidence from the public sector in the United Arab Emirates. International Journal of Public Administration, 36(6), 426-439.
Elbanna, S., Andrews, R., & Pollanen, R. (2016). Strategic planning and implementation success in public service organizations: Evidence from Canada. Public Management Review, 18(7), 1017-1042.
Estermann, T., Nokkala, T., & Steinel, M. (2009). University autonomy in Europe. European University Association, Brussels.
Estermann, T., Nokkala, T., & Steinel, M. (2011). University autonomy in Europe II: The Scorecard. European University Association, Brussels.
EUA. (2023). University autonomy in Europe IV: The Scorecard 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
Fumasoli, T., Gornitzka, Å., & Maassen, P. (2014). University autonomy and organizational change dynamics.http://www.arena.uio.no/
Haezendonck, E., Willems, K., & Hillemann, J. (2017). Doing good while performing well at Flemish universities: Benchmarking higher education institutions in terms of social inclusion and market performance. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 21(1), 31-47.
Hammershøj, L. G. (2019). The perfect storm scenario for the university: Diagnosing converging tendencies in higher education. Futures, 111, 159-167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2018.06.001
Iwinska, J., & Matei, L. (2014). University autonomy: A practical handbook. Central European University Yehuda Elkana Center for Higher Education, Budapest, Hungary.
Kinzelbach, K., Lindberg, S., & Lott, L. (2023). Academic Freedom Index. Institute of Political Science, Friedrich-Alexander Universität.
Lott, L. (2023). Academic freedom growth and decline episodes. Higher Education, 88, 999-1017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-023-01156-z
Mok, K. H. (2020). Higher education transformations for global competitiveness: Policy responses, social consequences and impact on the academic profession. Higher Education Quarterly, 74(4), 370-389.
Neave, G. (2012). The evaluative state, institutional autonomy and re-engineering higher education in Western Europe: The prince and his pleasure. Springer Science & Business Media.
Nokkala, T., & Bacevic, J. (2014). University autonomy, agenda-setting and the construction of agency. European Journal of Higher Education, 4(1), 1-15.
Nyhagen, G. L., & Baschung, L. (2013). Governance reform and university autonomy. Higher Education Policy, 26(1), 43-64.
Orr, D., Jaeger, M., & Schwarzenberger, A. (2007). Performance-based funding as an instrument of competition in German higher education. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 29(1), 3-23.
Paradeise, C., & Thoenig, J. C. (2013). Academic institutions in search of quality: Local orders and global standards. Organization Studies, 34(2), 189-218.
Pinheiro, R., & Stensaker, B. (2014). Strategic actorhood and internal transformation: The rise of the 'quadruple-helix university'? Higher Education, 68(5), 715-732.
Shattock, M. (2013). University governance: An issue for our time. Higher Education Quarterly, 67(1), 1-14.
Shattock, M. (2021). University governance: Perspectives on systemic change and institutional self-rule. Springer.
Verhoest, K., Peters, B. G., Bouckaert, G., & Verschuere, B. (2004). The study of organizational autonomy: A conceptual review. Public Administration and Development, 24(2), 101-118.
Zgaga, P. (2012). Reconsidering higher education autonomy: From historical to contemporary discourses. Czech Sociological Review, 48(3), 445-463.