1. The Autonomy On Trial
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Dr. Norbert KIS
Vice Rector, Corvinus University of Budapest
IAU Board Member

2. • the human/social values – justice – new
knowledge - the autonomy of universities
• the new public management - reconsidering
the autonomy of state-funded HEIs
Three implications
1. More precise and less relativist international
commitments are desirable as to the core values
of the autonomy
2. „Ius naturale” of the HE autonomy - A universal
minimum

3. 3. More effective constitutional and
judicial protection of the autonomy.
The State:
constitutional mechanism versus
legislation: international „common law” of
the autonomy
judicial review of the public administration
(minister)
the regulatory framework of the autonomy
neutrality in academic substantive issues

4. Three issues challenging the Humboldtian concept of
the autonomy v. State.
1. Organizational autonomy
Self-governance
• is not an absolute one.
• is limited to affairs affecting the academic freedom.
• the organizational status and frames are given.
The State
• change the status/merge/close the public HEIs. (for
policy reasons)
• no responsibility for each public HEI
• responsibility for the HE system

5. 2. Self governance versus Managerialism
• Does Academic freedom require freedom from
management?
External (non-academic) decision-makers in governing
board: acceptable or not?
• Trend in the EU (AT, CZ, LUX, NL, GM, SP, SW)
• In Hungary: Humboldt is still in fashion! - CC. ruled out
the external governing board.
Can CEO-type rectorship (appointed external top
manager) be in compliance with the academic self-
governance?
• Is the (s)election of the rector by the internal academic
body a core value?
• 10 EU MS: CEO-type rector

6. 3.How does the State funding policy
affect the university autonomy? And
vice versa?
• Is the State responsible for funding each public
HE “autonomy”?
• Can the academic autonomy be “real” without
state funding?
• Indicators of the funding system: effective,
based on academic and quality factors,
transparent, equal opportunity
• Abuse of funding power, purely political and
burocratic priorities – corrupting the HE.

7. • Negotiation-based funding policy vs.State
neutrality in academic issues
• Freedom to decide the number of students
• A transparent state funding can limit the
ability of the university to function by using
public money but substantially and
theoretically does not limit the autonomy.
• “Autonomy is not equal to a fully
independent operation due to the state
funding?” It is a matter of accountability!
• Looking ahead: international legislation - a
universal concept