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Public responsibility for higher education
Public responsibility denotes the set of duties public authorities must fulfil regarding the education sector and society as a whole.
Defining public responsibility
Core definition
Implementing a partnership model of higher education governance is necessary to ensure that all stakeholders are accountable and responsible.
Purpose
It includes the core responsibility for the proper functioning of the higher education system.
Beneficiaries
This function benefits broader society, individual development, and the members of the higher education community.
Scope
Includes political, public policy, regulatory, and legal obligations, specifically regarding funding.
Scope and system safeguards
Levels of exercise
While mainly exercised at national level, this responsibility can also be carried out at regional and local levels. Increasingly, there is also a recognized supra-national level of responsibility.
Mandate
Public authorities are responsible for putting in place supportive regulatory frameworks.
Fundamental values
Public responsibility involves the duty to help safeguard all the fundamental values of higher education.
Implementation
Responsibility may be exercised through legislation, regulations, policies, or funding.
Essential regulatory requirements
Public authorities must ensure that legal and regulatory frameworks are put in place to enable higher education institutions to pursue their missions (education, research, outreach).
Frameworks must specifically foster and enable:
◦ Institutional autonomy.
◦ Academic freedom.
◦ Self-governance by the higher education community
Exclusive oversight of system frameworks
Public authorities assume exclusive responsibility to ensure essential system frameworks are established and function adequately.
These crucial frameworks include:
◦ The legal framework.
◦ The qualifications framework of the higher education system.
◦ Frameworks for quality assurance.
◦ Frameworks for the social dimension of higher education.
◦ The funding frameworks.
◦ Frameworks for the recognition of foreign qualifications.
Leading role in access and financing
For participation to be meaningful, institutions and public authorities must create a supportive environment:
Equal opportunities
Public authorities assume leading responsibility for ensuring that all qualified candidates enjoy effective equal opportunities to undertake and complete higher education.
Non-discrimination
This access must be ensured irrespective of the candidate’s background.
Financing
Authorities assume a substantial responsibility for financing and ensuring the provision of higher education.
System integrity
All higher education, regardless of whether provision or funding is public or private, must be conducted and funded within the framework established by the competent public authorities.
Consultation and major goals
Collaboration
Public authorities should exercise their responsibilities in consultation with the higher education community and other stakeholders.
They should seek input regarding the configuration and substance of regulatory frameworks from the higher education sector, internal constituencies, and relevant external stakeholders.
Public authorities must further all major purposes of higher education:
◦ Preparation for the labor market.
◦ Preparation for life as active citizens of democratic societies.
◦ Personal development.
◦ The development and maintenance of a broad and advanced knowledge base.
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