РИЗИКИ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ АГРАРНОГО УНІВЕРСИТЕТУ: ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ПРОЦЕСІВ ПОПЕРЕДЖЕННЯ ТА ПОДОЛАННЯ

The article focuses on the identification and analysis of the risks that may arise in the activity of the agrarian university. The theoretical methods such as analysis, synthesis, comparison and generalization have been applied in order to meet the goal of this paper. The identified risks are of primary importance and occupy the first position in the registry of the higher educational institution. In particular, we have considered the financial risk, the risk of student recruitment and the risk of staffing. The financial risk means reduction in state funding, decline in net profit due to drop in the number of entrants, ineffective and inefficient use of funds, failure of the faculties and departments to exercise budgetary control and others. Mitigating actions include diversification of sources of funding to decrease reliance on any source; the development of financial strategy; performance of objectives relating to financial control; accurate budgeting. Early warning mechanisms of the financial risk occurrence involve regular review of progress against targets; reviews of performance against budget. The risk of student recruitment includes a lower student recruitment and retention, failure to attract high quality students, failure to recruit foreign students. Mitigating actions may be an improved communication with schools, colleges, industry; departmental review of courses; academic quality control mechanisms; focused recruitment process; clear mission statement on teaching, improvement of student support function to reduce withdrawals. Early warning mechanisms are the following: monitoring student application numbers; monitoring web site activity; feedback from schools, colleges, industry; withdrawals monitoring. The staffing risk involves failure to attract academic staff of sufficient number and standing; failure to develop and retain high quality academic staff and others. Mitigating actions may be a constant review of remuneration package; promotion on merit rather than longevity; constant review of remuneration package; fast track promotion scheme and so on. Early warning mechanisms are the following: monitoring of staff turnover rate; increasing staff turnover; poor take up of staff development activity. The further research should focus on the possibility to use the experience and best practice of the European universities under the issue being studied in Ukraine. The methods of risk management are a good source of reference for agrarian university.