Comparative Study of Compliance and Policy Frameworks

Abstract

The landscape of higher education is undergoing rapid transformation due to external pressures such as changing regulatory environments, increasing demands for transparency, and the rise of digital education. Universities need to adapt to these challenges while maintaining strong governance and compliance frameworks. There is a strong need for academics and managers in the universities to comprehend the impact of accountability on higher education policies. There is a growing need for universities to benchmark against the best global practices to remain competitive and compliant. The case study for this thesis is a leading University in Helsinki (UiH), Finland.

The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the existing compliance framework of UiH, assess its strengths and weaknesses, compare these with leading global universities and propose actionable recommendations. The foundation of this thesis is drawn from service design, Double Diamond model, and organizational governance literature. Qualitative research methodology was used, combining user surveys, stakeholder interviews, comparative desk research. These methods enabled a multi-perspective understanding of user needs, institutional pain points, and the strategic gaps in UiH’s current policy ecosystem.

In this context, this thesis recommends policy repository compliance model for improving compliance structure with targeted improvements aimed at enhancing institutional effectiveness and accountability by conducting comparative analysis of compliance framework at UiH visa-vis leading global institution (Cambridge, Oxford, Princeton, Stanford). The thesis provides a replicable roadmap for other institutions facing similar decentralization challenges in compliance and policy management.

Keywords: compliance, policy repository, service design, higher education administration