Luxembourg

Luxembourg rates “low” in organisational autonomy, but “high” or “medium high” in the three other dimensions. To a large extent, this is due to the specificities of the small Luxembourgish higher education system.

The university faces restrictions in nearly all aspects of organisational autonomy. The selection, appointment, dismissal and term of office of the president are regulated, external representatives are appointed by the ministry and academic structures are explicitly listed in the law. The capacity to create legal entities is not constrained.

Financial autonomy on the other hand is particularly high in Luxembourg. Student fees may be set freely for all student groups and the public funding cycle lasts for an exceptional four-year period. The surplus can be kept, money borrowed and buildings sold with the approval of the higher education ministry.

With regard to staffing issues, the only restrictions concern salaries and promotions for senior academic staff: precise salary levels or bands are set externally and promotions are only possible if there is a post at a higher level.

Academic freedom is also well developed: there are no restrictions on student numbers and admissions, the introduction of degree programmes, the choice of instruction language or the design of degree programmes. Only quality assurance mechanisms and providers are externally prescribed.

The small size of the higher education system in Luxembourg, which effectively consists of one university, helps to explain the close connections to the central government, particularly with regard to organisational matters. Such links are regarded as restricting institutional autonomy in certain key areas.

Organisational weighted 31% unweighted 31%

0

0% Selection procedure for the executive head

The selection of the executive head is validated by an external authority

50

50% Selection criteria for the executive head

The law states that the executive head must hold an academic position

This applies to 13 other countries: Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Flanders, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey

The law states that the executive head must hold a doctoral degree

This applies to 8 other countries: Cyprus, Finland, Flanders, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, Turkey

40

40% Dismissal of the executive head

The dismissal is confirmed by an external authority and the procedure is stated in the law

This applies to 5 other countries: Brandenburg, Czech Republic, Iceland, Latvia, Spain

0

0% Term of office of the executive head

The exact length is stated in the law

29

29% External members in university governing bodies

Universities cannot decide as they must include external members

The appointment is completely controlled by an external authority

This applies to 5 other countries: Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland

0

0% Capacity to decide on academic structures

Faculties/other academic structures are listed in the law

This applies to 2 other countries: Cyprus, Slovakia

100

100% Capacity to create legal entities

Universities can create legal entities without constraints

Financial weighted 91% unweighted 93%

100

100% Length of public funding cycle

More than one year

This applies to 3 other countries: Austria, Brandenburg, Norway

100

100% Type of public funding

Block grant and there are no restrictions on the allocation of funding

80

80% Ability to borrow money

Universities can borrow money with the approval of an external authority

This applies to 5 other countries: Cyprus, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Spain

80

80% Ability to keep surplus

Surplus can be kept but the approval of an external authority is needed

This applies to 4 other countries: Czech Republic, Latvia, Portugal, Turkey

60

60% Ability to own buildings

Universities can sell their buildings with the approval of an external authority

This applies to 7 other countries: Cyprus, Estonia, France, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland

100

100% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Bachelor level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 3 other countries: Estonia, Hungary, Latvia,

100

100% Tuition fees for national/EU students at Master's level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

This applies to 7 other countries: Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Portugal, United Kingdom

100

100% Tuition fees for national/EU students at doctoral level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

100

100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Bachelor level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

100

100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at Master's level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

100

100% Tuition fees for non-EU students at doctoral level

Universities are free to set the level of tuition fees

Staffing weighted 87% unweighted 85%

100

100% Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff

Recruitments are carried out freely by universities

100

100% Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff

Recruitments are carried out freely by universities

42

42% Salaries for senior academic staff

Salary bands are prescribed by an external authority for some staff

This does not apply to any other country.

Salaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for some staff

This applies to 3 other countries: Austria, Flanders, Portugal

100

100% Salaries for senior administrative staff

Universities can freely decide on staff salaries

100

100% Dismissal of senior academic staff

There are no sector-specific regulations concerning dismissals (national labour regulations apply)

100

100% Dismissal of senior administrative staff

There are no sector-specific regulations concerning dismissals (national labour regulations apply)

57

57% Promotion procedures for senior academic staff

Promotions are only possible if there is a post at a higher level

This applies to 5 other countries: Brandenburg, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Turkey

100

100% Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff

Universities can freely decide on promotion procedures

Academic weighted 74% unweighted 83%

100

100% Overall student numbers

Universities decide independently on the number of study places

This applies to 7 other countries: Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Sweden

100

100% Admissions procedures at Bachelor level

Admission criteria are set by the university

This applies to 10 other countries: Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, United Kingdom

100

100% Admissions procedures at Master's level

Admission criteria are set by the university

100

100% Introduction of programmes at Bachelor level

Universities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation

This applies to 6 other countries: Austria, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

100

100% Introduction of programmes at Master's level

Universities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation

This applies to 6 other countries: Austria, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

100

100% Introduction of programmes at doctoral level

Universities can open degree programmes without prior accreditation

100

100% Termination of degree programmes

Universities can terminate degree programmes independently

100

100% Language of instruction at Bachelor level

Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes

100

100% Language of instruction at Master's level

Universities can choose the language of instruction for all programmes

0

0% Selection of quality assurance mechanisms

Universities cannot select quality assurance mechanisms

0

0% Selection of quality assurance providers

Universities cannot choose the quality assurance agency

100

100% Capacity to design content of degree programmes

Universities can freely design the content of degree programmes and courses (other than for the regulated professions)