Examination of the Best Practices in Administrative and Organizational Functions of the Greek Universities ANTIGONI PAPADIMITRIOU KATERINA GOTZAMANI MARIA KOEMTZI GEORGE TSIOTRAS
Geographical distribution of the Greek Universities
21 1. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 1837, 2. National Technical University of Athens (Metsovio), 1836, 3. Athens University of Economy and Business, 1920, 4. Pantion University, 1927, 5. Agriculture University of Athens, 1920, 6. University of Piraeus, 1938, 7. Athens School of Fine Arts, 1837, 8. Harokopio University, 1929, 9. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 1925, 10. University of Macedonia, 1948, 11. University of Patras, 1964, 12. University of Ioannina, 1964, 13. Democritus University of Thrace, 1973, 14. University of Crete, 1973, 15.Technical University of Crete, 1977, 16. University of the Aegean, 1920, 17. Ionian University, 1984, 18. University of Thessaly, 1984, 19. University of Western Macedonia, 2002, 20. University of Peloponnese, 2000, 21. University of Continent Greece, 2003 Source: A. Papadimitriou, Quality Assurance in Greek Higher Education, Ph. D. Dissertation, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece, in process.
Relevant Laws and regulation The higher education system in Greece, and especially its university sector, is ruled in principle by the article 16 of the Greek Constitution, valid since 1975, and by the frame-law 1268. This law was introduced in 1982 and accounts for the major and most significant reform in the Greek higher education since 1932.
The major principle arising from article 16 of the Greek Constitution refers to the privileges of full autonomy and academic freedom reserved for the universities. At the same time, the Greek Constitution refers also to the state control upon the universities, which is carried out by the Ministry of National Education and Religious Affairs (YPEPTH) The need for state control stems primarily from the fact that, according to the Greek Constitution, universities are state-financed institutions. according to the Greek Constitution, university studies are free of charge. According to this principle, there are no fees for the Greek students. Nevertheless, the most recent legislation provides the possibility of setting tuition fees for postgraduate studies
Finance, financial management and other mechanisms for specific financial management Universities are financed mainly by the state. The regular budget for universities is revised by decision of the institution s Senate. The academic and most administrative staff receives salaries determined according to a set formula (rank and position, seniority and number of years worked) from the state budget. Teaching, research, operational expenses and the university infrastructure are also government financed.
State financing is provided to the universities in three parallel ways. 1. Covers directly the needs of the universities for personnel salaries. 2. Provides to the universities on a lump-sum basis and purposes to meet their needs for functional expenses and 3. Provides to the universities on an earmarked basis and purposes to fill their capital needs.
Further goals of this research The investigation of current application The development of evaluation criteria The identification of best practices The design and implementation of a database of best practices
Further goals of this research Investigation of current application Development of evaluation Criteria Identification of Best Practices Design and Implementation of a database of Best Practices
Project framework Catalog of Greek universities and a presentation of the selected administrative and organizational functions Record of the current situation of the chosen administrative and organizational functions Evaluation of the applied procedures Collection and analysis of the information Development of the data base Results of the research project
Chosen organizational and administrative functions 1. Library 2. Information Technology Center 3. Research Committee 4. Career s Office 5. Department of Public and International Relations
Chosen organizational and administrative functions Library Information Technology Center Research Committee Career s Office Department of Public and International Relation
Defining the evaluation criteria Education Criteria for Performance Excellence by the Baldrige National Quality Program (2004) EFQM Excellence Model Higher Education Version by Sheffield Hallam University in collaboration with EFQM (2003) Academic Scorecard evaluation of academic organizations ( balanced scorecard )
Enablers People People Results Results Leadership Policy & Strategy Processes Customer Results Key Performance Results Partnerships & Resources Society Results Innovation and Learning
EVALUATION CRITERIA QUANTITATIVE QUALITATIVE Financial and other resources Customers-Users Personnel Processes (functionspecific) Society Other data (not included in previous categories) Leadership Strategy User satisfaction Personnel Processes Resources
Evaluating performance of services Quantitative criteria performance indicators - numerical data aim: (a) to facilitate comparisons between similar Services and (b) to uncover operations with high levels of performance for application of the academic scorecard Qualitative criteria subdivided into sub-criteria, evaluation factors aim: to evaluate non quantifiable aspects of performance (e.g. leadership) factors are based on EFQM and Malcolm Baldrige models
BEST PRACTICES Quantitatively high performing practices High score achievements in qualitative factors
Project Schedule Phase 1 Phase 2 March 2004- June 2004 Catalog of Greek Universities Presentation of the selected administrative and organizational functions July 2004- October 2004 Investigation of current application Phase 7 August- December 2006 Results of the Research Project Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5 Phase 6 Nov. 2004- Feb.2005 Development of evaluation Criteria March 2005- Jun 2005 Best Practices from foreigner Universities July 05- Marc 2006 Collection and analysis of the information April Aug. 2006 Development of the Database
Questions, comments and suggestions are welcomed THANK YOU