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University governance is an essential but complex phenomenon, even in countries where institutional-level governance has a long and strong tradition. After the dissolution of the USSR, each of the 15 former Soviet countries developed their own university governance system and this groundbreaking book explores how these countries evolved from the 'common start' of a unified and tightly controlled higher education system, to shaping their own paths in higher education. Each chapter explores a different country, allowing university governance models to be compared and contrasted. The countries provide examples of a variety of different governance models - state-extended, academic focused, internal/external and civic - and the book highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each relative to their context. It also presents innovative frameworks to understand governance effectiveness in terms of autonomy, competition, and capacity. It is essential reading for researchers, students, and policy makers. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
List of contents
Introduction; Part I. Framing the Context: 1. Governing universities in post-Soviet States Peter D. Eckel; 2. Understanding ground zero: the Soviet context and legacy as the starting point for reform Zumrad Kataeva; Part II. Country University Governance Profiles: 3. Armenia Peter D. Eckel; 4. Azerbaijan Merey Mussabayeva and Serik Ivatov; 5. Belarus Peter D. Eckel; 6. Estonia Rita Kaša; 7. Georgia Leah Shapiro; 8. Kazakhstan Peter D. Eckel and Darkhan Bilyalov; 9. Kyrgyzstan Zumrad Kataeva and Ali Ait Si Mhamed; 10. Latvia Rita Kaša; 11. Lithuania Rita Kaša and Ali Ait Si Mhamed; 12. Moldova Peter D. Eckel; 13. Russia Zumrad Kataeva; 14. Tajikistan Zumrad Kataeva; 15. Turkmenistan Serik Ivatov and Darkhan Bilyalov; 16. Ukraine Ali Ait Si Mhamed and Serik Ivatov; 17. Uzbekistan Ali Ait Si Mhamed and Serik Ivatov; Part III. Comparisons and Analyses: 18. Variety and variation among post-Soviet university governing structures: toward four models Peter D. Eckel and Darkhan Bilyalov; 19. Governing appropriately: autonomy and bureaucratic capacity Peter D. Eckel; 20. Governing in the context of competition and autonomy Peter D. Eckel and Ali Ait Si Mhamed; Conclusion; 21. Addressing the dilemmas of governance in the post-Soviet context Peter D. Eckel; References; Index.
About the author
Peter D. Eckel is Senior Fellow and Director of Leadership Programs at the Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania. Notable publications include Practical Wisdom: Thinking Differently About College and University Governance (2018, Stylus). He serves as a trustee at the University of La Verne in California and co-leads the Penn Project on University Governance.
Summary
Leveraging the natural experiment caused by the dissolution of the USSR and its uniform approach to higher education, this book focuses on university governance across the former Soviet countries, making it essential reading for researchers, students and policy makers. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
