Are Common Beliefs Present among Greek Academics during the Implementation of a Controversial University Policy?

Abstract

Universities have existed and have been developing for many centuries. They have experienced many changes since they first appeared. Nowadays the university is experiencing massification and internationalization. It is therefore interesting to investigate whether concrete common beliefs and values concerning the university do exist in the academic community. This article investigates, through a case study, such an existence among Greek academics during the implementation of a controversial university policy program. The research question, (i.e. the article's title) is answered through the elaboration of elements which emerged from the analysis of 35 semi-structured interviews with actors participating in policy networks that were activated during the processes of formation and implementation of the case study university policy program.

Policies that Succeed and Programs that Fail: Ambiguity, Conflict, and Crisis in Greek Higher Education

“…For example, challenges to the constitutionality of new Councils on the basis of university self-governance meant elections for new rectors could not proceed because the law states only new Councils could propose rector candidates. Corroborating previous findings (e.g., Kavasakalis, 2013) there was widespread agreement among Greek academics on reform to escape the state stranglehold in higher education. The irony is opposing coalitions used the same distaste over centralization to both support the need for reform and oppose specific changes.…”