Some of these changes were initiated by government, others arose in response to market forces now that institutions have become more autonomous and competitive. Meanwhile, declining government support and new funding arrangements and methods have created uncertainty and volatility. Despite these challenges and many unforeseeable factors concerning national development, great efforts are being made to update the country's higher education system. Governance and Funding A major aspect of the change process is the self-governance of institutions. There are no laws guaranteeing the autonomy and freedom of institutions of higher education, but the institutions themselves are highly centralized with significant power concentrated in the office of the rector.
Faculty have only a slight involvement in governance.
As a result, in many cases change has been a lower priority than simple institutional survival. Only a small amount of the state s receipts are reinvested in higher education. Thus, as the government provides less money for the management of universities, the primary concern of rectors and administrators is funding. Universities have started to charge fees for the use of university properties and for various services to generate income for staff salaries. In addition to the 15 previously operating state institutions of higher education, there are now 87 private universities and institutes.