ABSTRACT
In the previous chapter, we proposed that administrative structure is a measure of an institution’s responsiveness to a learner’s individual needs. It expresses the extent to which lifelong goals, career objectives, and selection of an academic program of study can be adapted to a learner’s personal profile. In this chapter, we will demonstrate how the social environment affects universities and how expectations of other institutions of society influence their management structure which, in turn, affect the ability of an institution to be responsive to each learner. The case study for this chapter shows the impact of public policy on universities and how institutions balance their academic responsibilities towards students with the expectations of the societal system in which they operate.
