Autonomy of the University: A Financial, Academic and Administrational Approach

• Main Author: Ali Rıza ERDEM
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bülent Ecevit University 2013-01-01
• Series: Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi
• Subjects: University autonomy; Financial autonomy; Academic autonomy; Administrational autonomy
• Online Access: http://higheredu-sci.org/pdf.php3?id=1609
• ISSN: 2146-5959; 2146-5967

The concept of “autonomy” is mostly discussed at the institutional level. The term “autonomy” literally refers to “the right of self administration of an institution under its own legal constitution”. It has not only been a subject on which much has been negotiated in the academic world until far and a subject on which has never been reached a full agreement yet but also a subject which has been distinctively interpreted by all sides. To realize their social responsibilities in a best way, universities have to get the opportunity of an autonomous constitution. Moreover, this autonomy essentially depends on the existence of a harmonious financial, academic and administrational system. Today there is no a fully autonomised university but extent of autonomous. For an institution, a financial autonomy is “the state of driving its own expenditures by using freely its own sources”. It is of three dimensions, one of which is preparing its own budget, the other of which is constituting its own financial sources and the last of which is using its own financial sources. Today, in this respect, there is no yet “a fully autonomised university” in the world, because they are not capable of meeting the money which they need for their existence. To all people who have academic titles, “academic autonomy” necessarily refers to a chance of free education and researches free of all kinds of pressure and orientation attempts. According to Turkish constitution, academic freedom is limited to national defense and security & social order. According to a report in the ninth plan of development, released by “High Commission of Academic Education”, there is also not a fully academic autonomy. By the word “Administrational Autonomy” in universities, it is certainly meant that those institutions are driven and inspected by their own democratic organs whose members are necessarily democratically appointed. According to in the ninth plan of development released by “High Commission of Academic Education”, it is regarded as a weak point for government to try to interrupt higher education policies by using certain governmental policies.