LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONALISM AS FUTURE CHALLENGE IN PUBLIC SECTOR UNIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

During the last decades public university’s role and functions have increased – the university has to demonstrate not only successful results in studies and research, but also strive for international recognition and competitiveness. University is no longer a closed academic organization, and external stakeholders (entrepreneurs, industries, state institutions, etc.) are getting more and more persistent on asking – what are university performance results, what is university effectiveness - impact in society and national economy. Along with these issues public university governance and management has become a challenge in the Eastern European, including Baltic States’ universities. The latest literature sources as well as European and other countries’ experience demonstrate that one of the public university management challenges is the change from traditional bureaucratic management approach to the New Public Management which emphasizes management professionalism and leadership