Study On Operation Mechanism Of Academic Power In Universities And Colleges

Study on the operation mechanism of academic power in universities and colleges is both an important theoretical and practical issue with practical implication and practical value.On the basis of existing outcome of research and relevant theories, the basic concepts involved in the study are defined as follows:(1) Universities and colleges, also called institute of higher education with the short name of institute, are social organizations or entities where higher education is carried out. Universities and colleges mentioned herein only include the full-time public undergraduate ones sponsored by the government;(2) Academy refers to the process and result of exploring, integrating, communicating and applying the special and systemic disciplines. Academy mentioned herein refers to includes teaching, research and social service;(3) Power means mandatory power and special influence used by a certain subject in reliance upon certain resource to exercise value control of the object in certain social relations so as to realize the will, objective and interest of the subject;(4) Academic Power in Universities and colleges refer to the control and influence of organizations, groups and individuals in universities and colleges on academic institutes, workers, affairs, activities and resources. Academic power mentioned herein mainly include the academic power of individuals, groups and organizations, the administrative (positional) and democratic (expert) power, the vertical and horizontal power, the official and unofficial power and the power in academic decision making, execution and supervision;(5)Mechanism refers to the process, method and principle of various elements which, in the regular movement, change and development of objective things and phenomena, influence the structure, function and the interrelation and interaction of such motion, change and development. A mechanism is either "a specific cause-effect mode" or a "mode with certain law"; and (6) Operation Mechanism of Academic Power in Universities and Colleges refers to the process, method and principle of various elements which, in the regular movement, change and development of academic power in universities and colleges, influence the structure, function and the interrelation and interaction of such motion, change and development. In short, an operation mechanism of academic power in universities and colleges is no other than a" mode with certain law "in terms of operation of academic power in universities and colleges.This article analyses the general theories of the operation mechanism of academic power in universities and colleges under the guidance of power sociology. The theories mainly include the following:subject and object of the operation of academic power in universities and colleges, relativity of the subject and object, the operation mechanism, the continuity, standardization and rigorousness and its operation process, variety of its operation method, discrepancy between the actual and theoretical routes of the operation, assessment and supervision of the operation result or outcome, and the value and orientation of the objective of the operation. This article creates the framework for theoretical analysis for the operation mechanism of academic power in universities and colleges by choosing the decision-making method (DIM) as its theoretical perspective which is used in mechanism design and theory of comparative economy. The analytical frame mainly includes the following:(1) Basic Forms of the Operation Mechanism of Academic Power in Universities and Colleges. The mechanism includes seven forms or sub-mechanisms which are Decision Mechanism, Information Mechanism, Motivation Mechanism, Orientation Mechanism, Coordination Mechanism, Supervision Mechanism and Protection Mechanism, which, in turn, has the special implications, types, structure, functions and operation doctrines of its own.(2) Elements Constituting the Operation Mechanism of Academic Power in Universities and Colleges. The main elements include the environment, driver, subject, procedure, method and objective of the operation with every element having the special structure and functions of its own.(3) Main Functions of the Operation Mechanism of Academic Power in Universities and Colleges which include functions of incentive, self-implementation, interest and development.(4) Principle of the Operation Mechanism of Academic Power in Universities and Colleges. The Operation Mechanism of Academic Power in Universities and Colleges may function through any of the following method:self-implementation, mandatory implementation and abandonment or re-setting.This Author ponders over the achievements and problems in the operation mechanism of academic power in universities and colleges in China. First, he holds a positive attitude toward the historical achievements of the reform and construction of the operation mechanism of academic power in universities and colleges in China. Second, he makes a systemic analysis of the main problems in the operation mechanism of academic power in universities and colleges by exploiting the method combining empirical search with example quotation. This author conducts a research, by adopting the self-edited Questionnaire on the Operation Mechanism of Academic Power in Universities and Colleges, among603administrative personnel, teachers and graduates in15different-type public universities and colleges, and, by combining the existing research achievement, makes a systemic analysis of the main problems in the operation mechanism of academic power in universities and colleges. In the view of this author, the main problems existing in the operation mechanism are as follows:â…°) incomplete and unreasonable structure; â…±) inadequate exercised of its functions; and â…²) dissatisfactory operation. This author also makes a concrete analysis of the problems of the decision mechanism, information mechanism, motivation mechanism, orientation mechanism, coordination mechanism, supervision mechanism and protection mechanism of the operation system in terms of their subject and object, scope, system, method, process, objective and results. Third, the author tries to identify the causes for the said problem, which, according to the author, mainly include the following:â…°) outdated and shallow ideas;â…±) backward system and inadequate effective supply;and â…²) incomplete and incompetent system.This article brings forward the orientation and principles for the perfection of the operation mechanism of academic power in universities and colleges. Firstly, the four old ideas must be eliminated and replaced, that is, replace the idea of "valuing official title" with the idea of "valuing academic titles", replace the idea of "rule by people" with the idea of "rule by law", replace the idea of "mechanical response" with the idea of "scientific system", and replace "outdated ideas" with "idea of innovation". Secondly, three value orientations need to be confirmed, that is, values need to be orientated at liberation and development of academic production force, fostering of innovative talents and increase of core competitiveness of universities and colleges; and thirdly, to hold on to the five main principles, which are scientification, rationalization, democratization, legalization and adaptability.The article put forward the objective and strategy for the perfection of the operation mechanism of academic power in universities and colleges in China, which includes the following aspects:First, a fundamental objective needs to be established, namely, the establishment of a" scientific, rational, rigorous and effective " operation system of academic power in universities and colleges holds that Secondly, concrete and practical improvement measures are raised for the de facto problems existing in the seven sub-mechanisms of the operation system of academic power in universities and colleges.(1) Measures for improving decision-making mechanism. The decision-making subjects should update their decision-making ideas and enhance their decision-making ability; the scope of power and the object against which the decision is made and the scope there of should be defined; a decision-making process and the relevant rules should be established and improved; the decision-making organization and system should be set up; the scientific approach and method for decision making should be adopted; and the decision-making process needs to be further standardized to make it more rigorous.(2) Measures for improving information mechanism. The awareness and ability of the information subject needs to be increased; the information resources should be enriched; the information process should be standardized; the information system shall be completed; the advanced information technology should be adopted and the scientific information methods should be adopted.(3) Measures for improving motivation mechanism. The operation system should be completed to ensure the relevant academic interest and be innovated to inject vitality into it; and the mechanism for academic power, interest and responsibility should be completed to provide more driving force.(4) Measures for improving orientation mechanism. Emphasis should be placed on orientation of objectives; academic and policy orientations should be intensified; interest orientation shall be adjusted; value orientation shall be perfected; public opinions should be understood; legal orientation should be reinforced; and behavior orientation should be emphasized.(5) Measures for improving coordination mechanism. Coordination between the authority of the subject and the operation of the object should be enhanced; the coordination object and scope should be clarified; different coordination approaches and methods should be reasonably chosen and flexibly used; and coordination process should be pushed forward in an orderly manner to achieve the objective of coordination.(6) Measures for improving supervision mechanism. The supervision subjects should update their ideas and enhance their ability in supervision; the scope and object of supervision should be defined; the supervision process and procedure should be standardized; the supervision system should be completed and improved; and the advance tools, approaches and methods for supervision should be adopted; and (7) Measures for improving protection mechanism. The protection subjects and objects should enhance their awareness and ability in protection; the protection system should be improved and completed; the protection measures should be vigorously fostered and scientifically chosen and implemented; and the protection process and procedure should be standardized. The said improvement measures are brought forward against the common problems existing the operation system of academic power in universities and colleges in China, and the universities and colleges may, on the basis of their actual situations, choose the points for their breakthrough and emphasis to push forward and improve their operation mechanisms.