THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FUTURE OF UNIVERSITIES: SOME REFLECTIONS

Deep economic, technological, social changes form new challenges for universities. University management continues to be a problem. The main problem is how to find an optimal balance between the autonomy of the universities, the so-called democracy, and regulation from the state. Today the future of the universities in Lithuania is more uncertain than it has been in the last 30 years. A wide range of conditions and circumstances require constant change. The traditional model of university management becomes ineffective. The labor market makes new demands to universities (new study programms, short-term courses etc.). It is possible to tell that universities undergo constant pressure from the labor market. Does this mean that universities and government should resist labour-market pressures? The mentioned pressure is quite often inadequate and negatively influences university develop-ment. On the other hand, there are some hindering factors for more positive development of universities, such as low competence of managers, a separation from real practice, ignoring of world technological, social and economic tendencies.