Governance and Accountability

Education’s primary governance challenges derive from weaknesses in inclusiveness (democratic governance), fairness (equitable governance), and public accountability (transparent and incontestable governance). Good governance is regarded today as a major prerequisite for improving effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery and for meeting the needs of the poorest. During the MTS, IIEP will build on its strong work in the area to translate good governance principles into systematic institutional and sector policies and measures.

Corruption

Since launching its programme on Ethics and corruption in Education in 2001, IIEP has drawn invaluable insights into the importance of a sectoral approach for diagnosing risks and formulating relevant measures. Integrity planning has emerged as a path for assessing the possible risks of corruption and addressing issues of transparency and accountability. In the next years, IIEP will build an evidence base for the most critical and effective use of open education data for improving integrity planning in education. 

Governance in higher education 

In the area of governance reforms, the move towards increased autonomy of higher education institutions (HEIS) is a major reform strand in higher education. This move comes against the backdrop of: the changed role of the state, constrained financial resources, growth of private institutions, and strong social demand evidenced by an increase in enrollments. Consequently, HEIS are compelled to enhance the quality of service and delivery, while striving for cost-effectiveness and global competitiveness. In response to these evolutions, the Institute will work on developing and improving internal quality assurance systems and mechanisms. 

Decentralized governance

Decentralized governance is chosen by an increasing number of countries and, if well practiced, can result in more inclusive governance and contribute to improved quality, equity and relevance of educational services. One specific area receiving research attention in the MTS period is effective decentralized practices for financial resource allocation and use. Based on its extensive knowledge, IIEP will offer policy advice and technical assistance to design and implement school grant policies in order to influence educational equity and quality.