Management in the Greek system of higher education

Abstract

This article aims to outline the relationship between the Ministry of Education and the institutions of higher education in Greece. The co~ordination of this relationship is an issue vital for both the academic institutions - which require a degree of administrative independence to do their work on behalf of society; and for the State - which wishes to assure itself that the institutions of higher education are serving adequately the needs of society. The article concludes by arguing that the Ministry of Education exercises its control in the higher education sector through laws and regulations and intervenes in the day-ta-day administrative work of the academic institutions. The institutions in higher education are entirely subordinate to the State and have a limited voice in the decisions affecting their future development. Therefore. ministerial supervision may be considered as a case of 'bureaucratic overcentralisation' rather than as 'guidance' of the State.