Managing change in educational organizations: managing and leading higher education in an era of change in Greece. Case study: University of Indianapolis, Athens.

This project attempts to contribute to the field of education, by presenting and analysing change and its management and how change has affected the operations of a foreign University branch. It describes a set of recommendations that will aid the case organization (University of Indianapolis Athens - UIA) and consequently educational organizations / institutions, in listing the various challenges affecting education and their operations in the 21st century. It is argued that identifying these changes / challenges is a requirement towards planning and managing them for any organization. The project goes beyond identification of changes, examining how these affect a specific organization. One of the objectives of this research is to consider the level of resistance and to identify ways to cope with change at educational organizations. In essence, the project deals with identifying the various triggers of change and attempts to examine how educational organizations can successfully cope with changes affecting them. In doing so, it examines a specific educational institution in Greece, UIA, and its state of readiness in coping and implementing change. Despite the importance of the topic, the existing literature contains little empirical evidence in relation to academic institutions such as Universities, Colleges or any form of educational establishment in Greece. Through a qualitative research activity using a sample of UIA staff and academics, it was suggested that there is a need for the University to ensure that it takes into consideration the various challenges affecting the Greek educational industry. The findings suggest that the recognition issue expected in 2007 – 2008 in Greece will transform the educational scene in Greek private education and this change will trigger new changes that will most probably be coping with increased enrolment, increased competition due to the low entry barriers, a more business – like stance towards the education industry and the students and a increased reliance on up to date technology in many of the University’s departments and operations. The findings also suggest that the University will need to plan and manage the changes anticipated through appropriate leadership and adequate communication and participation to avoid conflict and resistance