The Brazilian system of higher education is discussed, including its evolution, the 1968 reform and its unintended consequences, and the recommendations of the 1985 presidential commission on higher education. Issues of interinstitutional diversity, institutional autonomy, and the influence of special interest groups on policy are addressed.…

Competition and government regulation in the Netherlands' and U.S. higher education systems are compared, and policy options to inject competitive dynamics into a highly regulated system are discussed. Policy options include demand-oriented policies (e.g., price changes, enrollment limits) and supply-oriented policies (e.g., institutional autonomy…

Discusses effects of British methods of resource allocation to the colonial universities on the methods used by the successor states, primarily for Ghana and Nigeria, in terms of the national governments' announced intentions and beliefs. Concludes that although the West African systems are similar to the British system, they are very much local…

University autonomy in Australia is examined: why institutional independence is important, how it has eroded since the late 1960s, factors leading to the erosion, and possible university responses. Concern is expressed about the universities' ability to withstand further government encroachment. (MSE)

Britain's higher education system illustrates how increased governmental influence can change social systems and produce unintended consequences. A model of change used to analyze this situation also suggests a form of accountability that can reduce unintended consequences, based on sharing of both power and responsibility by government and…

Investigated whether institutional autonomy related to faculty autonomy in Taiwan's higher education system, which has recently implemented policies to enhance institutional autonomy. Faculty surveys conditionally supported the claim that faculty members work within the constraints of regulated autonomy, where individual behaviors are delimited by…

Political influences on public universities are discussed, including characteristics of government intervention such as budget formulas, buffer groups and technocratic staffs, and special interest lobbying. Also considered are avenues for public universities to achieve more privatization, making universities more useful to government and society,…

The problems facing universities because of external pressures for changes in their teaching, research, and governance and management policies and practices to align them with public policies are discussed. Examples of these external pressures are provided in the context of general system theory. (Author/MLW)

A study investigated the perceptions of 136 Australian college and university administrators' and public education officials concerning recent reform in Australian higher education, and whether or not perceptions corresponded to the changes that were intended, particularly in the areas of teaching and research quality, funding, management…

The ability of the university culture to adapt to changing environmental conditions that challenge the institution's primary functions and values (academic freedom, autonomy) is discussed, and management approaches that mirror the specific culture of a university are described. Methods for assessing culture are described, a typology for…

A survey of attitudes toward Britain's University Grants Committee as intermediary between government and universities shows that it secures the maximum self-government for the institutions at any given time. Economic and political pressures have dampened enthusiasm for the agency, but do not warrant abandoning it. (MSE)

Formula funding in Ontario is used as a case study to evaluate how effective formula-funding has been in encouraging autonomous universities to work towards the attainment of public policy objectives. The analysis shows that four mechanisms have been used in Canada--formula funding, designated extraformula grants, incentive funding, and controls.…

In the Netherlands, the exigency of financial restraint has prompted educational expenditure cuts. Concomitant to these has been a move toward decentralization, with self-regulation at the institutional level. This paper argues that the operation of market forces and the promotion of institutional autonomy requires financial independence.…

The evolution of higher education's relationship with the state in Sri Lanka since 1921 is chronicled, focusing on the roles and changes of the state coordinating agencies, first the National Council of Higher Education and later the University Grants Commission. The issue of institutional autonomy throughout this history is also discussed. (MSE)

The historical path that led to the American system of institutional diversity in higher education is examined, and its positive (e.g., institutional autonomy, flexibility) and negative (e.g., possible over-responsiveness to short-term pressures) consequences are discussed. Issues in the privatization of higher education systems in other countries…