Modelling the Collapsing University

Vaia  Papanikolaou; Yiannis Roussakis; Panagiotis Tzionas

doi:10.22151/politikon.53.1

Authors

Vaia Papanikolaou University of Thessaly
Yiannis Roussakis National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Panagiotis Tzionas International Hellenic University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.53.1

Keywords:

Democratic University, Civil Society, Collapse, Crisis, Governance

Abstract

Although university’s contribution to the democratic society has been studied adequately, the establishment of its internal democratic institutions has not. Issues of autonomy and accountability exist whereas, today’s Postmodernism introduces further uncertainty. After constructing a framework for measuring democracy within a university using democracy indicators selected from international organizations, we attempt to interrelate these indicators to its democratic characteristics, raising the question: “To what extent could these characteristics be eroded before the university collapses?” Interviews with European academics were conducted and the influence of forces external to the university were studied using the Central European University in Hungary as a case study. The findings show that increased state control undermines institutional autonomy and so does imposing unnecessary restrictions. Protecting democracy and academic freedom, civil rights, and supporting an open society are of paramount importance, otherwise the university collapses. A model that captures such catastrophic state changes is finally proposed.

Author Biographies

Vaia Papanikolaou, University of Thessaly

Dr. Vaia Papanikolaou holds a PhD in Institutional Democratization in Universities,University of Thessaly. She holds an MBA (University of Nicosia), and B.Sc. inSociology, University of Crete. Her broader research interests include politics inhigher education, quality of democracy in universities, issues of autonomy andaccountability. She has more than 4 years teaching experience in teaching qualityassurance in Higher Education, at postgraduate level in the International HellenicUniversity. Email: vayapap@uth.gr.

Yiannis Roussakis, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Dr. Yiannis Roussakis isAssistant Professor of Education Policy andTeacher Educationat the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of EducationalStudies. He holds a PhD in Comparative Education and Education Policy (Universityof Athens), M.Ed. in Pedagogy (University of Crete), B.Sc. in Physics and B.Ed. inPrimary Education. His main research interests include European education policiesin comparative perspective, teacher education policies and practices, educationalassessment and quality improvement, education for sustainable development. Email: yiannis.roussakis@eds.uoa.gr.

Panagiotis Tzionas, International Hellenic University

Dr. Panagiotis Tzionas is Professor of Computer and Control Engineering in theDepartment of Production Engineering and Management, International HellenicUniversity. He is has served as Vice Rector of Research and lifelong learning of theInternational Hellenic University andin the past as Rector and Vice Rector of theAlexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki.Hehas a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Thrace, M.Sc. inDigital Electronics, Kings College, University of London, and Bachelor Engineering inElectrical Engineering, Imperial College University of London. Email: ptzionas@ihu.gr.