The analysis of corporate and academic culture of public and foundation universities

The aim of this study is to reveal the differences and similarities between public and foundation universities. In the data collection and analysis process of the study qualitative research methods and techniques were applied. In the study, cultural structures of the universities were presented in terms of participants' views. The study was conducted at six universities in Ankara, three of which were public universities (ODTU, Ankara, Hacettepe) and the other three were foundation universities (Bilkent, Başkent, Atılım). For determining the universities included in the study a) social environment, b) accessibility, c) level of development d) date of establishment were taken into consideration. Within the scope of the study, data were collected through semi-structured interview forms and document analysis and observations were used to support the data obtained from the interviews. Purposive sampling and snowball sampling strategies were used to determine the participants. The number of participants was decided according to data saturation Within the study, face to face in-depth interviews with 83 people were conducted in 2012-2013. Of these interviews, the data of 65 interviews were obtained by voice recorder and 18 of these were obtained by note taking. For the interviews with voice recorder, a copy of the recording were given to the participants who demanded. The duration of the interviews is between 15 minutes minimum to 85 minutes. In this study validity and reliability were evaluated within the context of verification strategies (triangulation, member checking, peer review, neutrality of the researcher, ethics). The data were analysed by content analysis and interpreted as corporate culture (4 categories) and academic culture (2 categories). In the light of the findings, the results of the study are as follows: • In determining the administrators, a culture of election is adopted in public universities whereas appointing is dominant in foundation universities. • There is an expectation for election/tendency determination poll in determining the administrators in public universities. In foundation universities, academicians expect the administrators to be determined by elections. • Memberships to trade associations are encouraged both in public and foundation universities. There is a tendency for being a member of a union in public universities while there is almost no membership in foundation universities. • The dominant norm for work load distribution in the cultures of public and foundation universities is to create a value-substantive structure. • In public universities being involved in the decision-making process is at the level of "receiving opinions", and at the level of "rather" in foundation universities. • In public universities being involved in the decision-making process is conducted by using methods such as "commissions, intra organisational e-mail, university forums". It is understood that centralized administrators are dominant in decision making process. • The most applied values within the corporate structures of state universities are "freedom of speech, fair and participative management, continuous development open communication, social integration, and services, open for improvement, stakeholder based, qualified academic staff, a free and convenient working environment. The most used expressions in foundation universities within their corporate structures are found to be "freedom of speech, openness to improvement. continuous development, fair and participative management, student centred education, qualified academic staff, modern campus, global focus, and internationalisation. • In terms of corporate values, there are differences in the following values; "branding/image, communication process with the graduates, rewarding, self-assessment, criticism/antagonism, participative management process of organized structures and culture of election". • Ceremonies organised in public and foundation universities centers upon the following dimensions; "opening ceremonies of educational year, spring festivals, interactive activities among the staff, history of the university, university publicity activities, activities regarding increasing orientation/organizational commitment. • According to the participants' views, state and foundation universities do not play the expected roles in solving social problems. • There is a similarity regarding research activities. It was found out that there are similarities regarding financial support for the researches. Participants stressed the publication quality and ethical considerations about publishing their articles. There is a correspondence in the cultures of state and foundation universities. • According to the participants' views, in public and foundation universities there is a free environment related to the classroom activities. Nobody interferes in the academicians' teaching process. They can express their thoughts in their lectures freely. Nobody interfere in the contents of the lectures. The academicians have no concern while explaining their thoughts. The academicians may prepare the course contents of the courses they wish. Nobody intervenes teaching approaches and methods applied in classrooms by the academicians feel themselves free.in the class.