Challenges of University Governance in Spain

Abstract

This paper helps to understand the challenges of the governance system at the Spanish universities more deeply. It is focused on three essential elements: institutional autonomy, participation in governance and accountability. The research method employed is document analysis and twenty-five interviews with experts.

Autonomy is related to the ability to make a decision, laying out problems due to its spreading, development and control, without getting round the existing challenges between institutional autonomy and personal autonomy. Participation connects with tradition and it is reinforced by the democratic development of societies. Nevertheless, it suggests problems with representation- speed and number of participants-persons in charge of decision-making. Finally, accountability dilemmas have to do with the establishment of indicators and its own effects.