Staffing

Staffing autonomy refers to a university’s ability to recruit and manage its human resources as it sees fit.

Staffing autonomy refers to a university’s ability to decide freely on issues related to human resources management, including recruitments, salaries, dismissals and promotions.

In order to compete in a global higher education environment, universities must be able to hire the most suitable and qualified academic and administrative staff without external prescriptions or interference.

The ability to determine salary levels is of prime importance when attempting to attract an excellent international workforce. The civil servant status held by university employees still prevents institutions in a number of European countries from setting salaries.

The capacity to promote and dismiss personnel freely enhances an institution’s flexibility, providing it with a competitive advantage with regard to staffing matters. The possibility to promote staff on the basis of merit remains restricted in a number of European higher education systems. Compliance with applicable labour laws and regulations is of course not regarded as a restriction on institutional autonomy.

Recruitment procedures for senior academic staff

19
countriesRecruitments are carried out freely by universities

3
countriesAppointments need to be confirmed by an external authority for some staff

This applies to 3 countries: Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia

1
countryAppointments need to be confirmed by an external authority for all staff

This applies to one country: Greece

0
countriesThe number of posts is regulated by an external authority for some staff

This does not apply to any country.

3
countriesThe number of posts is regulated by an external authority for all staff

This applies to 3 countries: France, Greece, Turkey

0
countriesRecruitments are carried out by an external authority for some staff

This does not apply to any country.

0
countriesRecruitments are carried out by an external authority for all staff

This does not apply to any country.

14
countriesOther restrictions

Recruitment procedures for senior administrative staff

23
countriesRecruitments are carried out freely by universities

1
countryAppointments need to be confirmed by an external authority for some staff

This applies to one country: Portugal

0
countriesAppointments need to be confirmed by an external authority for all staff

This does not apply to any country.

1
countryThe number of posts is regulated by an external authority for some staff

This applies to one country: Denmark

1
countryThe number of posts is regulated by an external authority for all staff

This applies to one country: Greece

1
countryRecruitments are carried out by an external authority for some staff

This applies to one country: France

1
countryRecruitments are carried out by an external authority for all staff

This applies to one country: Greece

3
countriesOther restrictions

This applies to 3 countries: Ireland, Italy, Spain

Salaries for senior academic staff

5
countriesUniversities can freely decide on staff salaries

This applies to 5 countries: Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, Switzerland

4
countriesThe decision on individual staff salaries is restricted due to an overall limit for all staff payments

This applies to 4 countries: Brandenburg, Flanders, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia

7
countriesSalary bands are negotiated with other parties

1
countrySalary bands are prescribed by an external authority for some staff

This applies to one country: Luxembourg

6
countriesSalary bands are prescribed by an external authority for all staff

This applies to 6 countries: France, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Turkey

4
countriesSalaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for some staff

This applies to 4 countries: Austria, Flanders, Luxembourg, Portugal

5
countriesSalaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for all staff

This applies to 5 countries: Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Slovakia, Spain

1
countryOther restrictions

This applies to one country: Norway

Salaries for senior administrative staff

10
countriesUniversities can freely decide on staff salaries

1
countryThe decision on individual staff salaries is restricted due to an overall limit for all staff payments

This applies to one country: Flanders

7
countriesSalary bands are negotiated with other parties

0
countriesSalary bands are prescribed by an external authority for some staff

This does not apply to any country.

6
countriesSalary bands are prescribed by an external authority for all staff

This applies to 6 countries: Denmark, France, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Turkey

3
countriesSalaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for some staff

This applies to 3 countries: Austria, Flanders, Portugal

4
countriesSalaries are set by an external authority/civil servant status for all staff

This applies to 4 countries: Cyprus, Greece, Slovakia, Spain

0
countriesOther restrictions

This does not apply to any country.

Dismissal of senior academic staff

11
countriesThere are no sector-specific regulations concerning dismissals (national labour regulations apply)

5
countriesDismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for some staff

This applies to 5 countries: Austria, Flanders, Portugal, Spain, Turkey

11
countriesDismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff

6
countriesDismissals are subject to other regulations specific to the sector

This applies to 6 countries: Austria, Cyprus, Flanders, The Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland

Dismissal of senior administrative staff

12
countriesThere are no sector-specific regulations concerning dismissals (national labour regulations apply)

5
countriesDismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for some staff

This applies to 5 countries: Austria, Cyprus, Flanders, Portugal, Spain

12
countriesDismissals are strictly regulated due to civil servant status for all staff

4
countriesDismissals are subject to other regulations specific to the sector

This applies to 4 countries: Austria, Flanders, The Netherlands, Switzerland

Promotion procedures for senior academic staff

13
countriesUniversities can freely decide on promotion procedures

5
countriesThe law states who has to be included in the selection committee

This applies to 5 countries: Cyprus, Greece, Norway, Portugal, Spain

6
countriesPromotions are only possible if there is a post at a higher level

This applies to 6 countries: Brandenburg, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal, Turkey

8
countriesOther restrictions

This applies to 8 countries: Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Hesse, Ireland, Italy, North Rhine-Westphalia

Promotion procedures for senior administrative staff

16
countriesUniversities can freely decide on promotion procedures

3
countriesThe law states who has to be included in the selection committee

This applies to 3 countries: Cyprus, Greece, Spain

6
countriesPromotions are only possible if there is a post at a higher level

This applies to 6 countries: Brandenburg, Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, Turkey

6
countriesOther restrictions

This applies to 6 countries: Denmark, France, Hesse, Ireland, Italy, North Rhine-Westphalia