In “Diverging paths? Institutional autonomy and academic freedom in the European Higher Education Area” Liviu Matei and Julia Iwinska found that the “Bologna Process and the emergence of [the European Higher Education Area] created conditions for the advancement of university autonomy, both conceptually and in practice. This was not the case with academic freedom. … A tendency to focus on instrumental aspects of governance can be identified during the period studied (from 1999-2000 until today), linked to the preoccupation for increased efficiency of universities as “delivery organizations” at the service of the knowledge societies. … Universities have more freedom to manage their internal operations, but not much freedom to decide what is the purpose of these operations, and perhaps simply what universities are for.” (excerpts)
With introductory remarks from public policy, human rights and legal theory, the seminar will invite participants to explore the causes and consequences of these disturbing developments.