SCANDINAVIA: More autonomous universities

In the year ahead, universities in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland are experiencing extensive reforms, notably in governance which includes changes to their executive boards and their relations with governments.

In 2003, Danish universities became "foundations subject to private law" and university staff were no longer governmental employees. Of 11 members of the governing board at Copenhagen University, six are external members and most are representatives from Danish industry and society.

The board appoints the rector who then appoints the deans and heads of department who are no longer elected by their colleagues. The objective of this reform was to increase opportunities for universities to take unilateral action and improve contact with industry.

Universities negotiate a development contract for five years with the Education Ministry which specifies quantitative measures and the time-frame for implementation. Major funding still comes from the government through legislation covering annual budgets.

Finland had a new university legislation effective from January 1, 2010, much along the same lines as in Denmark. In addition, the government opened a donation programme from private persons and industries, up to EUR250 000, where taxes are exempted and where the government will match the donation with a 250% allocation.

In Norway, initiatives to change university laws were not successful and in 2003, a bill to introduce a law for universities to become foundations subject to private law was rejected by the parliament. There was a massive protest from academics with a 4,000 signatories to a so- called "professor manifestation" and more than 500 articles in newspapers, most of them protesting against changing the law.

In 2008, another major reform, this time to merge universities, was also rejected. Paradoxically, Norwegian universities today enjoy more autonomy in deciding on their strategic priorities and establishing study programmes and student numbers than Danish universities.

Sweden has a new university law, introduced from January 1 this year, that offers new opportunities for universities to organise faculties and department. Professors can now be appointed on procedures the university itself decides, not the government as has been the case.

Rector of Stockholm University Kåre Bremer told University World News: "We will work to secure basic rights for the academic staff but the criteria for being employed will still be high".

* See also the report in our Round-Up section:EUROPE: Wave of university mergers