Author: Якубов, Умид Бобаевич; Гапурова, Лобар Нарзуллаевна; Касимов, Ботир Садриддинович

Annotation: This article analyzes the theoretical and institutional foundations of academic governance and university autonomy. The study examines the essence of academic governance, its main principles, and the significance of different forms of university autonomy in the modern higher education system. In addition, the autonomy models and international experiences of European, American, and Asian universities are comparatively analyzed. The balance between university autonomy and institutional accountability, quality assurance, accreditation processes, and factors influencing international ranking indicators are also explored. The article further investigates the institutional reforms being implemented in the higher education system of Uzbekistan, including the gradual expansion of autonomy, the introduction of digital governance instruments, and the improvement of KPI-based management systems. The findings demonstrate that university autonomy can ensure sustainable institutional development and international competitiveness only when it is harmonized with transparency, accountability, and quality assurance mechanisms.

Keywords: academic governance, university autonomy, academic freedom, institutional accountability, higher education, quality assurance, accreditation, KPI, digital governance, international rankings.

Pages in journal: 287 - 295