Organizational structure of university on the competitive market: adaptation potential and risks

The article touches upon the issue of adaptation mechanism of university organizational structures under the conditions of market economy. The potential of adaptation mechanism is revealed. The authors propose the idea that adaptability is based on the internal diversity of combined conglomerate structures. The issue of adaptation is considered from the perspective of national higher education systems. Transnational perspective of organizational structures transformation in higher education is set out. The author clarifies the specificity of horizontal and vertical differentiation, both related to intra-structures and interconnection structures and relations (sectors, layers, sections and their hierarchy). It is shown that the processes of horizontal and vertical differentiation promote the transformation of higher education systems on the one hand and resist these transformations on the other hand. The author provides examples why certain bases and principles of organizational structures in higher education (for example, organizational structure, where a department plays the role of a base) lose its vitality and start to transform. A comparative analysis of horizontal and vertical differentiation of higher education systems is carried out; the potential of differentiation in the dynamics of institutional growth in the competitive environment of higher education is revealed. In the conclusion of this article the author refers to the concept of «institutional comprehensive university». It is stated that the nature of such university is similar to the nature of a holding company; the principles on which the integral construction of a «comprehensive university» is based present the principles of differentiation and formal equality. As it is shown in the article, these principles may be hardly connected. It is concluded that flexible, mobile, open organizational system of higher education may show and use its abilities and adaptive mechanisms to a greater extent and degree. It provides a great opportunity of access to education, as well as the connection with labor market. In addition, this type of system provides support for the elite function of university education - for research function.

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