University autonomy and institutional self-regulation: foundations for responsible governance and quality assuranca in higher education
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9455-4324
University autonomy is an essential principle for the functioning of higher education institutions, as it enables them to define their academic projects, organize their structures, and make decisions according to their mission and context. However, its effective exercise requires internal mechanisms capable of evaluating, regulating, and continuously improving such decisions. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between university autonomy and institutional self-regulation by identifying their legal, educational, and organizational foundations, as well as their contribution to responsible governance and quality assurance in higher education. A qualitative, documentary, and legal-interpretive research design was adopted, supported by an integrative review of scientific, regulatory, and academic literature published up to December 2020. The analysis was structured around four categories: university autonomy as a legal and institutional guarantee; self-regulation and internal governance capacity; governance, participation, and institutional responsibility; and quality assurance and continuous improvement. The findings show that autonomy should not be understood as the absence of control, but as a capacity for institutional self-determination whose legitimacy increases when accompanied by effective mechanisms of self-regulation, participation, accountability, and internal evaluation. The study concludes that self-regulation strengthens university autonomy by transforming institutional freedom into academic, organizational, and social responsibility.
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