University autonomy as a tool to develop higher education and research

Abstract

While perceiving the autonomy of universities as conducive to the development of higher education, the author presents key elements of the ‘international context’ of transformations which take place in the organisation of higher education and research in France (i.e. the most important steps and documents issued by such institutions/organisations as UNESCO, OECD, Council of Europę or conferences of European ministers responsible of higher education and research). With the Lisbon Strategy in mind, the author presents the main goals of the French system of higher education and research, describes the mechanisms which are conducive to its development and then goes on to analyse the problem of academic autonomy and its impact on the efficiency of HE institutions in their teaching and research functions. The paper ends with postulates to improve the efficiency of higher education and research institutions in France.