The problems created by declining enrollments and fiscal stringencies have brought about a "new reality" for postsecondary institutions in Ontario and other Canadian provinces. The lean future that institutions face requires clear articulation and communication of institutional goals, retraining and reallocation of redundant academic…

Part of a series of studies on higher education in different countries, this essay examines relations between universities and governments from a comparative perspective. Two major themes that appear in the literature are the determinants of increased government control and the extent of that power; six recent books that address these themes are…

A discussion of Harvard University's ethical responsibilities by the college's president considers the reasons why universities have traditionally been reluctant to take formal positions on ethical and political issues arising in the outside world. These reasons include a belief that such positions will establish an orthodoxy that may inhibit…

There is some evidence that regionalism in higher education is emerging as a move toward a middle-ground position between strict institutional autonomy and stronger statewide coordination. Most observers of contemporary postsecondary education agree that the challenge of the next decade will be to find mechanisms for coordination that can achieve…

A case is cited in which the Supreme Court concluded that due process does not require the imposition of procedural safeguards in an academic dismissal from medical school. Examined are how this holding reflects judicial nonintervention, the narrowing of the concept of liberty, and the effect on the academic community. (AF)

The structure and reasoning of Justice Powell's decision in the Bakke case are examined with specific reference to the concepts of institutional autonomy and academic freedom. (BH)

Discusses development of public policy concerning higher education in the Netherlands since a major policy document was issued in 1985. Government strategy intends to break the traditional approach of detailed planning and control by increasing institutional autonomy and adaptability to societal needs. Characterizes government strategy as a…

Recent Ontario governmental policy proposals related to university governance and autonomy were based on an articulated need by various groups for zero tolerance of harassment. The paper critiques the proposals as a threat to many aspects of university integrity and academic freedom. The paper notes implications perceived for the erosion of…

Examines the policy context in which private education has emerged in post-Mao China. Uses three case studies of private schools/colleges to explore how intellectuals and educators in the Pearl River Delta (Guangdong province) have persevered to assert their academic independence, offer a new agenda for education, and redefine the private-public…

Changes in higher education resulting from the official emergence of the European Community in 1992 are discussed, including those that will be more or less mandatory, those that will be facilitated and/or encouraged, and those for which 1992 will represent an exceptional opportunity. (Author/MSE)

Attempts, most unsuccessful, to reform India's university examination system are chronicled, including curriculum reform, increased frequency of public examinations, introduction of internal assessment, development of item banks, changeover to a grading system, shift to semesters, improved administration, and creation of autonomous colleges. The…

An analysis of the changes in Western European higher education in the last decade focuses on three developments, all with origins in earlier periods: the increased pace of international exchange and cooperation, strengthening of regional cooperation and planning, and a reassessment of the role of government in educational planning and governance.…

This collection of 12 papers examines the governance and funding of higher education in Australia, focusing on the national education reforms of 1987-88 and their effect on universities. Papers include: (1) "Higher Education in International Perspective" (David M. Cameron); (2) "Governance and Funding of Higher Education"…

This paper examines the pace of economic and social change in the Pacific Rim region, discussing the role that universities should play in mediating such change. It addresses five major issues pertaining to the role of universities: (1) the individual university's role in human resource development; (2) the relationship between universities and…

This book contends that choice is critical to the process by which parents, students, and teachers can build consensus that allows a community of learning to emerge. It argues that the key to meaningful school choice is a system of tuition vouchers involving nongovernment schools, together with deregulation, which will foster an education that is…