Izvorni znanstveni članak
https://doi.org/10.3935/zpfz.76.3.1
Participatory Governance and Procedural Autonomy of Universities: A Comparative Analysis of European Models
Ksenija Grubišić
orcid.org/0000-0003-2464-1438
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Dario Čepo
orcid.org/0000-0003-1509-7020
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
This paper advances the concept of procedural autonomy as a fundamental yet underexamined dimension of university governance. While institutional autonomy is typically understood in formal and legal terms, this study argues that its substantive realization depends on the inclusiveness and legitimacy of internal decision-making processes. Drawing on theories of participatory and deliberative democracy, procedural autonomy is conceptualized as an institutional capacity grounded in the active involvement of the academic community.
The paper employs a comparative analysis of governance models in Croatia, Spain, Austria and Italy, focusing on the composition of governing bodies, leadership selection mechanisms and the distribution of decision-making authority. The findings reveal a consistent association between broader participation and higher levels of procedural autonomy and institutional legitimacy. Conversely, more centralized and managerial models tend to enhance decision-making efficiency while limiting participatory inclusion.
Building on these insights, the paper identifies a set of institutional practices that strengthen procedural autonomy, including expanded electoral participation, balanced representation across academic constituencies and the institutionalization of deliberative mechanisms. The paper concludes that sustainable university governance requires hybrid institutional arrangements that reconcile democratic participation with effective management, thereby ensuring both legitimacy and functionality in contemporary higher education systems.
Ključne riječi
procedural autonomy; university governance; participatory democracy; higher education; distribution of power
Hrčak ID:
349759
URI
Datum izdavanja:
24.7.2026.
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