Flashbacks of the bad old days? The bureaucratization of Czech universities in the post-communist era

Numerous countries are reportedly witnessing the bureaucratization of universities, manifesting inter alia in a gradual increase in the administrative burden that overshadows the core missions of universities. Regrettably, there is a notable gap in research specifically focused on bureaucratization of higher education institutions in post-communist countries, where state bureaucratic control over economies, societies, and academic institutions prevailed before 1990. This article seeks to address this gap by examining the perception of the administrative burden among a representative sample of 1117 Czech academic workers, utilizing a diverse range of methods, including an experimental component. The majority of academics are experiencing an escalation in administrative demands that curtails the time and effort they can allocate to research and teaching. While they do see potential in digitalization and modern technology, they view the existing university bureaucracy as inefficient, ever-increasing, and excessively regulated, particularly in relation to grants and subsidy programs. Notably, for many seasoned academics who have lived through communism, modern university bureaucracy is a reminder of the "bad old days."