STRUCTURAL REFORM AND REFORM IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT WITHIN CURRENT EUROPEAN HIGHER EDUCATION SPACE

Abstract

This article presents the study on the issue of contemporary processes of reforming of European higher education system. It is based on results obtained in the framework of Erasmus Mundus post-doctoral mobility program between September 2011 and February 2012 in Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, and the University of Turku, Finland. The implemented methodological approach is based on the questionnaires, meetings, and interviews with different actors involved in the University system at different levels – with professors, scientists, PhDs, Master and Bachelor students and administrators dealing with student affairs.Both purposes of Bologna reform namely restructuring of higher education and having a different composition of competences; and internationalization of higher education and mobility are considered in this article. It is shown that restructuring of higher education first of all consists in implementing of Bachelor’s/Master’s study system. It is also shown that there are two separate aims in internationalization of higher education that is intercontinental mobility and Intra-European mobility. Particular attention in the article is given to changing conditions and challenges of academic profession in different European countries with higher education reforms. In this context, analysis is presented which tackles three main issues: I) limitation of study time and structuring of curriculum – students have to follow curriculum strictly; internal structure of program had been changed by modules and become more organized; II) academic freedom of professors (namely individual component and institutional component) and its changes; III) academic freedom of students and their role in study process under current higher education reform. An emphasis is done on the role of students in study process which has been changed: students became more like customers; students became more demanding; teachers became more like the kind of education providers for students. A special emphasis in the article is also done on the reform in educational management and governance as important reform for further development of higher education system and a «silent» revolution in higher education. It is shown the influence of the most important coordination forces in higher education space, such as state, academic communities, market structures, and University management. It is also noted that in the frame of transformation of the management and governance structure: I) the main criteria for recognition of academic performance and achievements are changed; II) the new type of governing within the institutions between top university management, faculty level, and individual professors appeared; III) special accreditation institutions for assessment and accreditation of new courses and new Bachelors and Masters programs appeared.