Higher education service: conception and properties

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Aukštojo mokslo tarnyba; Švietimo tarnyba; Tarnyba; Aukštojo mokslo savybės švietimo paslaugos; Higher education service; Education service; Service; Properties of higher education services.

ENArticle deals with specification of higher education services. The conception as well as the properties of higher education services are analysed. Higher education services are specific and differ from the other types of services as well as education services. In order to identify all properties of higher education services it is necessary to analyse both general properties of services and specific properties of education services, vocational training services and higher education services. All these properties of higher education services are analysed and summarised in this article. A survey of the relevant literature is provided in this study. Purpose – to analyse higher education service conception and main properties systematically: to review the diversity of conceptions of service, education service, higher education service involving the main properties of each service category; to present the list of properties of higher education services which includes both generic and specific properties of higher education services. Design/methodology/approach – the study is performed using the following methods: systemic analysis, review and generalization of scientific literature and legal regulation. Finding – higher education is an economic category equivalent to the service, which is characterized not only by service generic properties, but also by specific properties inherent to education, vocational training and higher education services. The general list of properties of higher education services consists of 45 characteristics that reveal the complexity of higher education services, uniqueness and specificity. However this list is not exhaustive. Properties of higher education services are necessary phenomenon which helps better understand the nature of higher education and assist in other research areas of higher education.Research limitations/implications – this study is based on review of the newest scientific literature and legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania, which are regulating the research object. Practical implications – properties of higher education services assist in other research areas of higher education. Understanding and assessment of the properties of higher education services affect better quality of research in such research areas as higher education funding model development, higher education service pricing, higher education finance management, higher education service quality assessment and improvement, and etc. Originality/Value – the structured list of higher education services properties is presented, according to the generic properties, inherent to all types of services and specific properties, inherent to education, vocational training and higher education services. [From the publication]