Autonomy and Accountability

1. Autonomy and accountability are two sides of the same coin. Justify the statement in the context of the university system.

Autonomy and accountability are closely related to each other. The distinction between the two concepts is that the autonomy guarantees academic freedom to some measure but cannot be construed as a sufficient condition. In accountability, not a single person, either student or staff is prejudices on the basis of region, religion, socio-economic background etc. 

There are two levels of responsibility required of academics in their exercise of academic freedom. (i) The internal responsibilities involve a due regard for the academic freedom of offer academics, the positive encouragement of academic developments and an acceptance of the procedures adopted for safeguarding academic freedom. (ii) External accountability which may be formal or informal, direct or indirect is owned to society because society is the major founder of higher education as well as its major beneficiary.

Higher education should given an account of its performance in terms of the extent of fulfillment of its social expectations and accept responsibility for its failures. It would also mean that society can intervene in the affairs of higher education when the latter fails to discharge its obligations.

There has long been a tension between the demands for academic autonomy in higher education and the demands of its founders for accountability. In recent times, more stringent funding procedures accompanied by specificity in funding arrangements resulting in increased accountability of higher education institutions. It is difilcult to judge whether the increased accountability is reasonable or whether it goes too far infringing academic freedom. A system which embodies greater accountability may turn out to be fairer and better able to prevent abuses of academic freedom. Academics are not only in the business of advancing knowledge but should also be concerned with sharing their understanding/discoveries to as many as possible.

For autonomy and accountability, the government will have to provide adequate resources to higher education for it to play its role. It is also required that the government lifts the bureaucratic pressures on universities and explores more cost effective and credible systems of quality, audit, research, evaluation, accountability and control Development of a national system of credit accumulation and transfer flexible enough to incorporate the accreditation of prior learning and of work based learning is also essential in this regard.

As far as the role of universities is concerned, the universities should defend critical basic research and scholarship as both the life blood of the intellect and the hallmark of a civilized society. They should articulate, promote and defend their commitment to democratic values and the responsibility to be engaged directly in major public debates in modem society. 

It has to acknowledge that higher education is part of society and vital to the development and promotion of the cultural and moral values upon which modern society and the quality of people's lives ultimately depends. Therefore, university should be given wider decision making power and autonomy while they are formulating policies.

Autonomy and accountability are the two sides of the same coin. These are complementary to each other. Autonomy without accountability may lead to anarchy. Accountability without autonomy may turn into regimentation. A balance between the two is necessary.