Abstract
Since their origin in medieval Europe, university power arrangements have been shaped by a tension between two principles of coordination: collegiality and hierarchy. The collegial principle holds that academics as a group of peers make decisions on behalf of the institution. Institutional leaders are elected by and among members of the academic community and negotiate on behalf of the academic peer group with funders and stakeholders to secure the flow of resources to the institution while preserving its autonomy. Collegiality has traditionally been supported by academics who strive to control the working conditions of the institutions in which they work. The hierarchical principle, on the other hand, holds that institutional leaders (rectors, vice-chancellors, presidents) make decisions on behalf of the institution with a view to the interests of major funders and other stakeholders and apply the means necessary to see their decisions implemented by subordinate faculty and department levels. They may be appointed by or otherwise depend upon other actors than their academic peers, be it the government, board of trustees, or private donors. They are, therefore, inclined to try to control the institutions and the academics within them from above. The hierarchical principle has traditionally been promoted by actors (e.g., public or religious authorities, business interests) who wish to use academics and their knowledge in pursuit of their own ends.
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© 2012 Adam R. Nelson and Ian P. Wei
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Bleiklie, I. (2012). Collegiality and Hierarchy: Coordinating Principles in Higher Education. In: Nelson, A.R., Wei, I.P. (eds) The Global University. Historical Studies in Education. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230392465_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230392465_4
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