The Role of University Autonomy Factors on the Ranking of European Universities

Nowadays, by considering the history of academic autonomy in world’s top universities, neglecting such a criteria in ranking systems is thought provoking. European University Association classified the recent concept in four factors: Organizational, Financial, Staffing and Academic. Therefore, the present study investigated the relationship between University Autonomy factors and Times Higher Education ranking of best European universities. This research is based on descriptive-correlational method. The study population consisted of all European universities which have been participated in 2011 ranking of European University Association and best European universities in 2017 ranking of THE. The sample consisted of 15 countries and 249 universities based on the data of European University Association ranking and THE ranking of best European universities. Data were analyzed through the version 24 of SPSS by using Spearman correlation and linear regression tests. There is only a significant relationship between Staffing Autonomy and THE ranking of best European universities, but based on linear regression results, university autonomy factors are good predictors of this rankings except Organizational Autonomy. Because of Financial Autonomy, Staffing Autonomy and Academic Autonomy are the appropriate indicators for ranking universities in Europe, the need for further research to develop a similar index in the ranking of European universities and its feasibility will be felt in Iranian universities.