University Governance: Analyzing Key Drivers, Core Themes, and Major Outcomes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi university of Mashhad,

2 Department of Management, Payame Noor University, Tehran-Iran.

Abstract

Purpose: Given the rapid and widespread changes in today's academic environment, universities are under increased pressure to ensure accountability, transparency, and conduct quality assessments while guaranteeing excellence. University governance, with benefits such as flexibility in securing financial resources, high-quality education and research, and the ability to attract top talent, can become a driving force for economic and social development in society. Therefore, this study aims to explore the themes of university governance.
Research Method: This study is a qualitative and applied research that utilizes the content analysis method, conducted using the MAXQDA software.
Findings: Research findings revealed over 150 initial codes related to university governance, which were classified into 26 sub-themes. Six themes pertained to the foundations or drivers of university governance, 12 themes were related to university governance context, and 8 themes were related to the outcomes of university governance.
Conclusion: Universities should make decision-making processes transparent and accountable through evaluation and monitoring mechanisms, while enhancing their independence by attracting financial resources and involving all stakeholders (students, professors, staff, and the community). The establishment of formal structures such as university councils, rule of law, fair distribution of resources, equity, balance, and capacity building through the improvement of the quality of education and research will contribute to the realization of university governance. The use of information technology and the utilization of digital systems, online platforms, and drivers will enhance outcomes such as increased educational equity, equal access to educational and informational resources, and participation in university educational and administrative processes.

Keywords


  1. منابع

    1. Akbar, R. F., & Ahmad, N. (2024). University Governance and Organizational Commitment to Build Competitive Advantage in Islamic Higher Education. Al-Tanzim: Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 8(1), 116-132.‏
    2. Al Sawafi, A., Banneheka, B. M. S. G., Hashim, M. W., Valsala, S., & Noushad, B. (2023). Development and Validation of a University Governance Index. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Organizational Studies, 18(2), 65.‏
    3. Algazo, F. A., & Ibrahim, S. (2024). University Governance and Accountability. Asian Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences, 6(2), 528-535.‏
    4. Bangun, V. S., Kesuma, S. A., & Gultom, P. The Influence of Knowledge Development on Good University Governance in Indonesian Universities.‏
    5. Beineke, P., & Soeteman, A. (2021). Governance Structures in Higher Education: A Comparative Analysis of European and American Models. Higher Education Quarterly, 75(2), 254-272. https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12277
    6. Bologna, M., & D’Andrea, V. (2020). The Governance of Higher Education Institutions: A Comparative Study of Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Higher Education, 79(2), 221-237. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-019-00496-6
    7. Brown, R., & Jones, G. A. (2007). The Role of Governance in Higher Education: Lessons from the UK. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 29(1), 17-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600800601174973
    8. Carnegie, G. D., & Tuck, J. (2010). Understanding the ABC of university Australian Journal of Public Administration69(4), 431-441.‏
    9. Chandra, R. S. (2024). University governance in the context of student activism: A case study of Tribhuvan University. Journal of International Development Studies, 32(3), 71-87.‏
    10. Clark, B. R. (2004). Creating Entrepreneurial Universities: Organizational Pathways to Transformation. IAU Press.
    11. Cowen, T. (2024). The evolution of university governance.‏
    12. Crow, M. M., Whitman, K., & Anderson, D. M. (2020). Rethinking academic entrepreneurship: University governance and the emergence of the academic enterprise. Public Administration Review, 80(3), 511-515.‏
    13. David, J., Tewal, B., Sendow, G. M., Trang, I., & Lumintang, G. G. (2022). Good University Governance, Reputation Risk, and Public Accountability private universities (pts). Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen dan Bisnis, 7(2), 142-156.‏
    14. De Boer, H., & File, J. (2009). Governance and Management of Higher Education Institutions: A Comparative Perspective. European Journal of Education, 44(3), 381-394. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1465-3435.2009.01400.x
    15. Dill, D. D., & Beineke, P. (Eds.). (2013). The Governance of Higher Education Institutions: Global Perspectives. Springer.
    16. Donina, D., & Jaworska, M. (2024). Higher education governance in Poland: Reform pathway from the Communist regime to Law 2.0. Higher Education Policy, 37(1), 40-58.‏https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41307-022-00293-x
    17. Dwipananda, R. F., Aswirawan, M. Y. M. S., Jufri, M., Rahim, R., & Nursyafitri, A. (2024). THE RELATIONSHIP OF GOOD UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE AND STUDENT SATISFIED AT INSTITUT TEKNOLOGI BATAM. Maqdis: Jurnal Kajian Ekonomi Islam, 9(1), 25-42.‏
    18. Eastman, J., Jones, G. A., Trottier, C., & Bégin-Caouette, O. (2022). University governance in Canada: Navigating complexity. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP.‏
    19. Eckel, P. D., & Trower, C. A. (2023). Practical wisdom: Thinking differently about college and university governance. London: Routledge.
    20. Endawansa, A., & Juwono, V. (2024). Analysis of the Principles of Good University Governance at the University of Indonesia as a State University with Legal Entity (PTN-BH) in 2014-2019. Jurnal Borneo Administrator, 20(1), 57-70.‏
    21. Enders, J., & Jongbloed, B. (2006). Public-private Dynamics in Higher Education: Expectations, Developments and Outcomes. London: Routledge.
    22. Fatmawati, E., Suharto, B., Amrozi, S. R., Suhma, W. K., Yudiawan, A., Ilyasin, M., & Suhma, F. M. (2024). Change management towards good university governance in Indonesia: study at Islamic religious universities based on BLU mandate. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1), 2333081.‏
    23. Ferlie, E., & Musselin, C. (2009). The Governance of Higher Education Systems: A Comparative Study of France and the United Kingdom. Journal of Education Policy, 24(4), 423-439. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680930902733278
    24. Flipse, A. C., van Berckel Smit, F. J., & Huisman, J. (2024). Understanding organizational identity in universities: Unravelling autonomy, governance and leadership in the case of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Higher Education Quarterly, 78(1), 254-267.‏ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/hequ.12458
    25. Géring, Z., Kováts, G., Tamássy, R., & Király, G. (2024). Public debate about the model change in Hungarian higher education: The representation of radical changes in university governance in Hungary in politically opposing online newspapers between 2019 and 2021. East European Journal of Society and Politics, 10(2), 171-192.‏
    26. González, M. D. R. M., Sánchez, M. T. G., Pacheco, M. D. J. C., Rodríguez, M. A. V., Mendoza, R. C., & Lirios, C. G. (2024). University Corporate Governance in the Literature From 2019 to 2024. Journalism, 14(3), 179-188.‏
    27. Gornitzka, A., & Maassen, P. (2008). Transforming Higher Education: Global Perspectives. Palgrave Macmillan.
    28. Gumport, P. J., & Sporn, B. (2005). Managing the University: Governance, Management and Leadership. Routledge.
    29. Hidayat, S., Affandi, N., Eryanto, H., & Hidayat, D. R. (2023). Higher education governance and lecturer performance: the role of leadership, commitment, and culture. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice23(6), 185-195.‏
    30. Irawati, S., Juniar, A., & Handayani, S. A. (2024). SWOT Analysis of Participation in Governance (Study at UNUKASE). Asian Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship and Social Science, 4(03), 927-947.‏
    31. Jongbloed, B., & Van Vught, F. (2008). The Role of Higher Education in a Knowledge Society. Springer.
    32. Keczer, G. (2023). University governance reforms in Portugal. Hungarian Educational Research Journal, 13(1), 47-63.‏
    33. Kogan, M., & Hanney, S. (2000). Reforming Higher Education: Higher Education and the Knowledge Economy. Open University Press.
    34. Litsey, R., & McNaughtan, J. (2022). Academic Municipalities: Understanding University Governance as Urban Politics. In Governance and Management in Higher Education (pp. 89-103). Emerald Publishing Limited.‏
    35. Luo, Z., Junfeng, M., Abbasi, B. N., & Zilong, L. (2024). Institutional structure and governance capability in universities: an empirical study from the perspectives of time, space, and quantity dimensions. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 1-17.‏
    36. Marginson, S. (2007). Global Positioning and the Governance of Higher Education. International Journal of Educational Management, 21(5), 432-450. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513540710779531
    37. McLaughlin, J. A., & Jordan, G. (2010). Governing Higher Education: Understanding the Contemporary Governance Challenges. Studies in Higher Education, 35(2), 159-177. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075070903409667
    38. Musselin, C. (2021). University Governance in Meso and Macro Perspectives. Annual Review of Sociology, 47(1), 305-325.‏
    39. Naidoo, R., & Jamieson, I. (2005). Governance and Management in Higher Education: The Role of Accountability. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 27(2), 133-144. https://doi.org/10.1080/13600800500283592
    40. Oh, S. H., & Sanfilippo, M. (2024, October). University Governance for Responsible AI. In Proceedings of the ALISE Annual Conference.‏
    41. Ordorika, I. (2024). Power and politics in university governance: Organization and change at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. London: Routledge.
    42. Prisma-P Group, Moher, D., Shamseer, L., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., Shekelle, P., & Stewart, L. A. (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Systematic Reviews, 4(1), Article 1. https://doi. org/10.1186/2046-4053-4-1
    43. Pritchard, R., & Smith, J. (2013). Institutional Governance and Management in Higher Education: An International Perspective. Higher Education Quarterly, 67(4), 382-400. https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12018
    44. Ramirez-Cardona, A., & Calderón-Hernández, G. (2024). Organizational coupling in higher education institutions: challenges for university governance. International Studies of Management & Organization, 54(2), 105-119.‏
    45. Riana, K. E., & Hadiwidjaja, R. D. (2024). Good University Governance To Universities Performance: Systematic Literature Review. Eduvest-Journal of Universal Studies, 4(5), 4229-4243.‏
    46. Rodríguez-Aceves, L., Couto-Ortega, M., Minola, T., Markuerkiaga, L., & Hahn, D. (2024). Entrepreneurial University governance: The case of a Cooperative University. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 1-34.‏
    47. Rubio, F., Llopis-Albert, C., Palacios-Marqués, D., García-Hurtado, D., & Zeng, S. (2024). Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Higher Education: A Critical Examination of Governance and Policy. Multidisciplinary Journal for Education, Social and Technological Sciences, 11(2), 78-107.‏
    48. Salmi, J. (2007). The Challenge of Establishing World-Class Universities. World Bank.
    49. Septianti, D., & Rahmani, H. F. (2024). Pengaruh Good University Governance dan Pengendalian Internal Terhadap Kinerja Keuangan STIKES Rumah Sakit Dustira Cimahi. PENG: Jurnal Ekonomi dan Manajemen, 1(2), 747-791.‏
    50. Shattock, M. (2006). Managing Successful Universities. Open University Press.
    51. Siregar, K. E., & Putra, A. M. S. (2024). Enhancing governance in Indonesian legal entity state universities: Insights from global best practices. Journal of Educational Management and Instruction (JEMIN, 4(1), 101-112.‏
    52. Stensaker, B., Jungblut, J., & Mihut, G. (2024). Strategic advisory boards–the emergence of shadow governance in universities? International Journal of Leadership in Education, 27(4), 762-778.‏
    53. Styhre, A. (2024). Introduction: the primacy of theory in the university governance regime. In The Value of Theorizing (pp. 1-15). Edward Elgar Publishing.‏
    54. Styhre, A. (2024). The Value of Theorizing: How New Theory Matters in Research Work and University Governance Practice. Edward Elgar Publishing.‏
    55. Teichler, U. (2014). The Changing Role of Higher Education Institutions in the Global Context: Governance, Management, and Academic Staff. Higher Education Policy, 27(3), 281-299. https://doi.org/10.1057/hep.2014.11
    56. Tight, M. (2012). Higher Education Governance and Management: Theories, Issues, and Perspectives. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 40(2), 138-154. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143211433568
    57. Tight, M. (2013). The Governance of Higher Education: Comparing National Systems. International Journal of Educational Management, 27(1), 54-71. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513541311293076
    58. Trakman, L. (2008). Modelling university governance. Higher Education Quarterly, 62(1‐2), 63-83.‏
    59. Trevisan, L. V., Eustachio, J. H. P. P., Dias, B. G., Filho, W. L., & Pedrozo, E. Á. (2024). Digital transformation towards sustainability in higher education: state-of-the-art and future research insights. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 26(2), 2789-2810.‏
    60. Trow, M. (2007). The Governance of Higher Education: A Comparative Perspective. Springer.
    61. Trowler, P., & Bamber, V. (2005). Higher Education Governance and Management: A Comparative Perspective. London: Routledge.
    62. Weller, S., & Williams, S. (2020). The Impact of Governance on Higher Education Outcomes: A Study of European Universities. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 42(5), 557-573. https://doi.org/10.1080/1360080X.2020.1842179
    63. Williams, G. (2019). Governance of Higher Education Institutions: An International Perspective. London: Routledge.
    64. Wolfe, R., & Dilworth, R. (2020). The Effectiveness of Higher Education Governance Structures in Enhancing Institutional Performance. Journal of Higher Education, 91(6), 834-850.
    65. Wright, S. (2022). Danish university governance reforms: Internationalisation and de‐internationalisation. European Journal of Education, 57(1), 96-108.‏
    66. Xue, Y., & Zhu, C. (2022). Review of research on knowledge domains in university governance: Mapping literature in English and Chinese. European Journal of Education, 57(1), 49-64
    67. Zemsky, R., & Shaman, J. (2009). The Impact of Governance Structures on Higher Education Outcomes: Evidence from the US and Beyond. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 31(3), 207-223.