A1421
Title: Comparative analysis of higher education systems in selected European countries
Authors: Elzbieta Zalewska - University of Lodz (Poland) [presenting]
Abstract: Central and Eastern Europe comprises a heterogeneous group of countries that have undergone profound socio-economic transformation, globalisation and demographic change in recent decades. These processes have significantly affected higher education institutions and national higher education systems. At the same time, European universities seek to preserve academic traditions while introducing innovation and competing internationally. The aim is to compare similarities and differences in higher education systems across selected Central and Eastern European countries and to contrast them with selected founding member states of the European Economic Community. For the analysis, Central and Eastern European countries were divided into three regional groups: the Visegrd Group, the Baltic states and the Balkan countries. Differences between groups were assessed using permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), while similarities between countries were identified using Wards hierarchical cluster analysis based on Euclidean distance. The results indicate that the traditional regional classification of Central and Eastern European countries does not fully explain the diversity of their higher education systems. The observed differences are more strongly associated with funding patterns, demographic conditions, internationalisation and the characteristics of national higher education models.
