This study comparatively examines state policies of university autonomy in the Eastern Neighborhood countries of the European Union, with a particular focus on Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova. Guided by the principles outlined in the 2007 Lisbon Declaration, the research investigates how university autonomy is shaped by state policies in these three countries. The study is grounded in the qualitative research design, drawing on document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and content analysis of legislative frameworks and higher education experts’ perspectives- including those of professors and administrative personnel. Five core features of university autonomy policies were identified: Legislative control over university autonomy, Political appointments to administrative positions, gaps between policymaking and implementation, the impact of funding on financial autonomy, and the existence of formal rather than substantive academic autonomy in relation to quality assurance standards. Two primary explanatory factors emerged: the scarcity of university resources and the persistence of centralized management practices. The study is framed through systems theory, drawing on the work of Alex Clark, Michael Hogg, and Ron Stewart in University Autonomy and Public Policy: A Systems Theory Perspective. From this perspective, universities, government bodies, and policymakers are understood as interdependent components of the broader systemic network, where actions taken by one entity influence the functioning of others. This research contributes to the limited academic literature on university autonomy in the EU’s Eastern Neighborhood by offering a cross-country comparison aligned with European higher education standards.

Teacher collaboration appears essential for creating a dynamic and effective educational environment that supports teachers' professional learning and growth. In various research studies, supportive school leadership has been identified as a key condition for collaborative teacher learning, which enhances teachers’ engagement and professional learning by fostering a climate of trust. Bangladesh is still struggling with the orthodoxy of leadership, which suggests a hierarchical relationship between followers and leaders, posing considerable constraints on teachers' collaboration in the school environment. Applying semi-structured interviews with thematic analysis as a data analysis instrument, this study aimed to explore the existing collaborative practices among secondary school teachers in Bangladesh and the school leaders’ approach to teachers’ collaborative practices through the lens of transformational leadership constructs. The study found a scarcity of teachers' collaborative functions in the school environment and insignificant school leadership support for teachers' collaboration. Teachers encounter considerable constraints, both individually and institutionally, due to excessive workload, inadequate infrastructure, attitudinal issues, and problems with leadership approaches. The study has implications for fostering transformational leadership, as it highlights the constructive impact on teachers' collaboration, given the noticeable absence of transformational leadership practices. Finally, the study provides recommendations for policy-level reform in designing and implementing training and professional development programs for both teachers and school leaders, with a focus on collaborative practices in similar contexts.