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Student and staff participation in higher education governance
Student and staff participation in higher education governance is designed to strengthen the higher education system by involving all key stakeholders in decision-making. This involvement is rooted in the essential principle of partnership and collegiality.
1. Core principles of participation
Meaningful participation is based on several key democratic principles and requirements:
Partnership model
Implementing a partnership model of higher education governance is necessary to ensure that all stakeholders are accountable and responsible.
Freedom and autonomy
Staff and students have the right to organize autonomously without pressure or undue interference. Their freedom to express views on institutional and public policies without fear of reprisal is considered an inseparable element of academic freedom.
Dialog and trust
The dialogue between stakeholders must be based on mutual trust, recognition, and cooperation. This dialogue should be governed by clear and transparent regulations, provisions, and procedures.
Democratic legitimacy
The elections of student and staff representatives must be organized freely and autonomously, be representative, and adhere to democratic principles to be legitimate. Representatives remain accountable to the people who elected them (their constituencies).
2. Why participation matters
Student and staff involvement is essential for the quality and long-term success of higher education:
Strengthens governance
Participation enhances the overall effectiveness of higher education governance.
Foster ownership and community
It strengthens the sense of ownership, community, and shared responsibility for developing high-quality, socially responsible higher education.
Fulfils mission
Participation and cooperation with stakeholders (including institutional leaders, staff, students, and external parties) are essential for fulfilling the main missions of higher education.
Quality assurance
Participation should be taken into account when recognizing higher education institutions as part of a national education system and must be included in quality assurance criteria.
3. Scope: where participation applies
Participation should be applied universally across the European Higher Education Area (EHEA):
Institutional type
It applies to all systems and institutions, regardless of whether they are public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit.
Level of governance
Participation must occur at every level of governance:
◦ Transnational (across borders)
◦ European
◦ National
◦ Regional
◦ Institutional
◦ Within the institution, e.g. at faculty and department level.
4. Key rights and areas of influence
Participation grants specific rights that allow students and staff to influence decisions across the institution and system:
Key rights of students and staff
Students and staff have the right to:
• Elect and be elected in open, free, and fair elections.
• Have their views represented and taken into account.
• Initiate and participate in all debates in all governing
bodies.
• Be duly consulted through their representative
organizations on issues concerning the governance and development of the higher
education institution and system.
Areas of continuous influenceThe principle of collegiality requires participation continuously at various stages, including setting agendas, drafting decisions, voting, veto, implementation, and monitoring.
Elected representatives should be consulted on all issues put before governing bodies, which may include but are not limited to:
• The freedom to learn and equitable access to higher education.
• Organization and content of education, curriculum design, and quality assurance.
• Strategic objectives and governance designs, including financial matters.
• Academic staff recruitment, retention, and secure employment conditions.
• Freedom from threats, retaliation, dismissal, or other sanctions related to their professional views, teaching, or research content.
5. Requirements for successful participation
For participation to be meaningful, institutions and public authorities must create a supportive environment:
System commitment
Public authorities must commit to democratic governance principles, adopt required legal provisions, and respect autonomy and participation.
Support for representatives
Higher education institutions and systems should provide financial and other resources to ensure the sustainable representation and independence of student and staff organizations and their representatives.
Stable conditions
Higher education can only thrive when public authorities and higher education institutions provide students and staff with stable learning and working conditions. This includes academic staff at all stages of their career and in all contractual modalities (full time, part time, fixed term, and "on demand").
Inclusion of diverse groups
Measures to encourage engagement must take into account the diverse socio-economic conditions of members, focusing particularly on early career academics and students coming from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Encouraging engagement
Institutions and student/staff organizations should actively seek to stimulate participation in elections and encourage engagement in the life of the institution to enhance its democratic legitimacy.
Resources
Tirana Ministerial Communiqué
Tirana Statement on fundamental values
Paris Ministerial Communiqué
European Strategy for Universities
Slide deck on Fundamental Values (PPT)
Bologna Process Implementation Report 2024 - Fundamental Values Chapter