Higher Education Policy: An International Comparative Perspective

Tremendous changes are affecting the structure and funding of higher education in many countries. This volume attempts to identify and analyze the principles, structural features and modes of work of the different higher education policies operating in eleven countries, as well as their commonalities and differences in the light of both general international trends and country-specific factors. National correspondents were provided with an overarching framework to guide them in their work and to ensure maximum comparability of the resulting reports. Four themes within higher education policy are explored in each country report: a description of the structure and goals of the higher education systems, authority in the higher education system, higher education policy, and the impact of each on institutional governance and management. The final chapter draws together the general trends which have emerged: a move towards less state control, a strengthening of institutional autonomy and increased governance, competition between institutions, privatization of funding, greater market orientation and growing institutional accountability for quality and service.