Expansion of University Financial Autonomy as an Instrument to Increase the University Social Responsibility

Abstract

European strategic documents and analytical reports of international organizations are analysed. Authors found out that expansion of university financial autonomy and increase of university social responsibility is a trend of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Strategic documents in Ukraine, which is directly related to the development of higher education, are analysed. Authors defined that ensuring the autonomy and promoting social responsibility of higher education institutions are important for enhancement of the management efficiency in Ukraine’s higher education system. Authors proposed the definitions of the concepts “university financial autonomy” and “expansion of university financial autonomy”. Key features / dimensions / contexts, which are essential in terms of expanding university financial autonomy, are identified. They include: industry and institution management characteristics; state role in higher education management; types of governance in higher education; models of modern universities; paradigms of social development; level of university financial autonomy; efficiency of activity; approaches to funding; mechanisms and instruments for expanding of university financial autonomy. Factors, determining / limiting the level of financial autonomy of Ukraine’s universities are clarified. Conceptual frameworks, approaches and possible scenarios for expansion of financial autonomy of Ukraine’s higher education institutions in terms of their social responsibility increasing are proposed. The first scenario involves a combination of low level of university financial autonomy and low levels of resources providing and university impact on social development. The second scenario includes a combination of low level of university financial autonomy and high levels of resources providing and university impact on social development. The third scenario involves a combination of a high level of university financial autonomy and low levels of resources providing and university impact on social development. The fourth scenario includes a combination of a high level of university financial autonomy and high levels of resources providing and university impact on social development. Authors clarified the connection between the concepts: university autonomy and university social responsibility; university social responsibility and funding; university social responsibility and accountability of universities.