University and Academic Administration, UK

The central purpose of a university is the acquisition, understanding, and transmission of knowledge of the world and the application of this knowledge to human affairs through research, publication, and teaching. Responsibility for undertaking this purpose lies with the academic staff and the students they teach. Administration refers to the management activity and organisational structure that supports and facilitates their task.

University administration is a broad term. At one level, it denotes the regulation and management of student admission, progress, and assessment. At another, it refers to the authorities responsible for governance, the formulation of institutional policy, and the relationship with stakeholders and society. At its broadest, it encompasses the management services—financial, human resources, buildings, plant, and facilities—discharged by qualified professional employees of the institution.

Different aspects ...