Abstract
The study examined the level of autonomy in one of Nigeria’s third-generation universities. Findings indicated that generally government intervention was rated as not unreasonable. Specifically, the study discovered that government never exerts any influence on the appointment, discipline, tenure and dismissal of staff; entry standards and pass and failure rates of students; curriculum and teaching; research and publication; and membership and control of senate, academic boards and staff. However, from time to time, government exerts its influence on the appointment and dismissal of vice chancellors; pay and conditions of service of staff; admissions quotas for minority groups; introduction of new teaching fields; membership and control of governing councils; standards in particular subjects and accreditation of courses; number of students to be admitted; closure and amalgamation of courses; and duration of academic years. Often, government exerts its influence on the control of governing councils and quality control of academic standards, number of students to be admitted and the level of fees to be charged by the universities.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Agasisti, T., & Catalano, G. (2006). Governance models of university systems—towards quasi markets? Tendencies and perspectives: A European comparison. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 28(3), 245–262.
Ahmadu Bello University (2000, September). ABU Council report on autonomy. p. 2. Zaria: Ahmadu Bello University.
Ajayi, K. (1989). Educational development and management in Nigeria since independence. Ibadan: Vantage Publishers.
Anderson, D., & Johnson, R. (1998). University autonomy in twenty countries. Canberra: Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs.
Arikewuyo, M. O. (2004a). University management and staff unions in Nigeria: Issues and challenges. SA-eDUC: An Electronic Journal, 3(1), 15–22. Retrieved from https://doi.org/www.puk.ac.za/opencms/export/puk/html/fakulteite/opvoed/educ/reviewed_artikels
Arikewuyo, M. O. (2004b). Democracy and university education in Nigeria: Some constitutional considerations. Higher Education Policy and Management, 16(3), 121–134.
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (1998). Statement on academic freedom, university autonomy and social responsibility. May 5. Retrieved August 26, 2009, from https://doi.org/www.aucc.ca/pdf/english/statements/
Babarinde, K. (2004). Is there a local relationship between autonomy and quality in higher education. Nigerian Journal of Educational Philosophy, 11(1), 20–27.
Coaldrake, P., & Stedman, L. (1998). On the brink: Australian universities confronting their future. St. Lucia: University of Queensland Press.
Dill, D. D. (1992). Administration: Academic. In B. R. Clark & G. Neave (Eds.). The encyclopedia of higher education (Vol. 2, pp. 1318–1329). Oxford: Pergamon Press.
Dlamini, C. R. M. (1997). Academic freedom and the autonomy of tertiary institutions. Available on https://doi.org/www.general.rau.ac.za/aambeeld.
Ekong, E. E. (2001). Management styles in Nigerian universities under military rule and challenges of democracy: How democratic can university management be? (Research paper). Association of African Universities (AAU). Retrieved from https://doi.org/www.aau.org/studyprogramme
Felt, U. (2003). University autonomy in Europe: Changing paradigms in higher education policy. Retrieved from https://doi.org/www.magna-charta.org/pdf/Documento_Felt.pdf
Harvey, L. (2004). Analytical quality glossary. Quality Research International. Retrieved from https://doi.org/www.qualityresearchinternational.com/glossary
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) (2004). Higher education in the United Kingdom. London: HEFCE.
International Association of Universities (1998). Statement on academic freedom, university autonomy and social responsibility. Retrieved from https://doi.org/www.iau-aiu.net/p_statements/afstatement.html
Karran, T. (2007). Academic freedom in Europe: A preliminary comparative analysis. Higher Education Policy, 20(3), 289–313.
Kerr, C. (1993). Universal issues in the development of higher education. In J. B. Balderston & F. Balderston (Eds.). Higher education in Indonesia: Evaluation and reform (pp. 19–35). Berkeley, CA: Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California.
Moses, I. (1998). Staffing and institutional infrastructures—some considerations. Higher Education Management, 9(3), 127–138.
Moses, I. (2007). Institutional autonomy revisited: Autonomy justified and accounted. Higher Education Policy, 20(3), 261–274.
Munene, I. (1996). The crisis of governance in Kenya’s public universities: A reflection on national politics and institutional decline. Available on https://doi.org/www.ahero.uwc.ac.za
Olorode, L. (2001). Democratic imperatives and higher education in Nigeria: The quest for social justice. I. Proceedings of the 12th general assembly of the Social Science Academy of Nigeria (pp. 29–36). Abuja: Social Science Academy of Nigeria.
Onyeonoru, I. (2005). University autonomy and cost recovery policies: Union contestation and sustainable university system. UNESCO forum on higher education, research and knowledge. Retrieved from https://doi.org/www.unesco.org/en/education.
Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (2005). Education at a glance. Paris: OECD.
Reichert, S., & Tauch, C. (2005). Trends IV: European universities implementing Bologna. Brussels: EUA.
Trow, M. (2005). An American perspective on British higher education: The decline of diversity, autonomy and trust in post war British higher education. Berkeley, CA: Institute of Governmental Studies, UC Berkeley. Retrieved from https://doi.org/www.repositories.cdlib.org/igs/WP2005-3
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) (1997). The records of the 29th session of the General Conference: Resolutions (Vol. 1, pp. 26–36). Austin/Paris: UNESCO.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arikewuyo, M.O., Ilusanya, G. University Autonomy in a Third-Generation University in Nigeria. Tert Educ Manag 16, 81–98 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1080/13583881003756468
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13583881003756468