Coercive isomorphism in higher education: Direct pressures from the state to the Turkish universities

Abstract

The universities maintain their continuity with the pressure of complying with the policies of the state and global policies. This study addresses the coercive pressure of the higher education policies of the state on the Turkish universities. The elective classes of Occupational Knowledge and Area Training to be taught at the universities may be opened when they are approved by the Higher Education Council (Yuksekogretim Kurulu, YOK) which is an institution having a public legal entity. On the other hand, the ability of the universities to determine the elective class of Liberal Education indicates a rare situation where the universities exercise their autonomy.Keywords: Isomorphism; coercive isomorphism; higher education policy, higher education, university