Collegial governance model – UGC NET Question

The collegial model of governance views the university as a community of scholars who collectively deliberate and decide on academic matters. Decisions about curricula, assessment and research priorities are made through bodies like faculty boards, departments and senates. The stem explicitly refers to decisions taken collectively by peer bodies, which is the hallmark of collegial governance. Hence, Option A is the correct answer.

Option A:
In collegial systems, authority is derived from professional expertise rather than hierarchical position alone. This model values consensus-building and shared responsibility for academic standards, aligning closely with the description in the question.

Option B:
The managerial model emphasises executive leadership and administrative control, often borrowing practices from corporate management. While it may include consultation, decision-making is more centralised, so this option does not match the peer-based model described.

Option C:
The market model highlights competition among institutions and responsiveness to student and employer demands, focusing on market mechanisms rather than collective scholarly deliberation. It therefore does not capture the governance style indicated in the stem.

Option D:
Military governance would imply rigid command structures and strict top-down discipline, which is far from the collaborative peer decision-making process characteristic of collegial models. Thus, this option is not appropriate.