This commentary explores the so-called global "crisis" in education and the corresponding pressures and moves to "reform" education, and in particular, public education. The myths underpinning and driving these developments are examined. Supposed problems with (public) education and proposed solutions are explored. The…

Explores various market segments in higher education, demonstrating how faculty salaries, faculty-student ratios, use of part-time faculty, and student choice follow the ordering of the market. Teaching practices, on the other hand, appear to be invariant across market segments. (EV)

Proposes a set of axioms, rules, and practical tools that campuses can use when they ask: What is our market position and is repositioning possible? The tools are designed to help higher education institutional leaders and researchers achieve the goal of being both market smart and mission centered. (EV)

In the United States, developing "human capital" for both economic and social benefit is an idea as old as the nation itself and led to the emergence of world's first mass higher education system. Now most other nations are racing to expand access to universities and colleges and to expand their role in society. Higher education is…

Presents a market taxonomy for higher education, including what it reveals about the structure of the market, the model's technical attributes, and its capacity to explain pricing behavior. Details the identification of the principle seams separating one market segment from another and how student aspirations help to organize the market, making…

Reforms in many countries have attempted to increase the degree of competition in school markets. Analyzes school market outcomes utilizing a simple model of the type of local market created in England and Wales. Finds, for example, that the combination of quasi-market reforms do not appear to have produced incentives for all schools to increase…

Describes the Collegiate Results Instrument (CRI), which measures a range of collegiate outcomes for alumni 6 years after graduation. The CRI was designed to target alumni from institutions across market segments and assess their values, abilities, work skills, occupations, and pursuit of lifelong learning. (EV)

Discusses the uses to which the Collegiate Results Instrument (CRI), discussed in another article in this issue, can be put by institutions and prospective students. Explores: What does the CRI teach an institution about its signature in the marketplace? How different are those signatures? Do they differ within and across market segments? What…

Countries of Central and Eastern Europe already developing model standards in the framework of restructuring their education systems have been chosen to develop model standards for other countries. To compare the standards being developed in these countries, a system of indicators must be developed. The most important indicators are as follows:…

Higher education structures need to be redesigned to make them more responsive to the public's demand for more attention to teaching and learning and the reality of limited financial resources. The enterprise model can serve as a 21st century paradigm, with three new "tools": (1) customer influence on delivery of services; (2) accountability…

This discussion of school choice places the issue in its historical and contemporary contexts, describes the major choice plans through case studies, analyzes the outcomes of school choice, and examines the underlying assumptions of the market model of educational reform. School choice is one method by which public education can be reinvented, as…

Higher education is undergoing radical shifts that are part of the larger wave of changes taking place in the society. The transformation affects all sectors of higher education, especially distance learning and how it relates to the University's regular offerings. In this article, the author begins with clarifying the terms commonly associated…