Philip G. Altbach - Böcker

Since their founding, African colleges and universities have faced numerous challenges. While most are legacies of colonialism, these institutions are affected by particular conditions and realities in their home countries. This book is the first comprehensive survey of all aspects and dimensions of higher education in Africa today. It includes a historical overview of higher educational resources in Africa; descriptions of the size, scope, and nature of higher education in each African nation; and analyses of current and timely topics, such as the state of private higher education in Africa, the financing and economics of higher education, gender issues, distance education, information and communication technologies, and university/state relations. The work concludes with an extensive bibliography of Ph.D. dissertations and other resources on the subject. Relevant for policymakers, development agencies, and university researchers, teachers, and administrators worldwide, African Higher Education is an important and basic reference.

In the past two decades, there has been a number of nonformal education programs in Latin America and the Caribbean, among them literacy programs, community development, technical/vocational training, cooperatives, agricultural assistance, and popular education. Nonformal Education and the Poor in Latin America and the Caribbean is a comprehensive overview of these programs--their goals, methods, and actual accomplishments. The book also assesses the impact these programs have had on community and individual development and behavior especially in light of political events in these regions.

This is the first book to provide detailed analysis of the relationship between higher education and scientific research in key Third World countries. Focusing on four of the most successful of the newly industrializing countries--Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore--the authors examine the intersection between outstanding economic development in these four countries and the higher education and research establishments they have developed. The study combines careful analysis of the current status of scientific research in higher education with detailed ethnographic case studies of scientific work.Based upon a two-year research effort sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the study presents a multifaceted approach to the subject, evaluating for each country: the organization of the universities and other scientific institutions; the scientists and administrators who work in these institutions; the research productivity and the relationship of basic research to applied uses in industry and commerce; the interactions of these institutions with scholars from Western Europe, Japan, and North America. The authors demonstrate that the nations under study are rapidly building a sophisticated scientific infrastructure and clearly recognize the importance of science for development. The book concludes with an enlightening discussion of how scientists publish their findings in these countries.

This compilation of 29 country studies could not be more timely. Recent student unrest in El Salvador, Czechoslovakia, and West Germany, a national student forum held in Moscow, and China's Tiananmen Square student tragedy all suggest a worldwide upsurge in students' efforts to participate in political life. . . . Each chapter presents historical analyses of key events, with emphasis on the past three decades. . . . Altbach has assembled a strong international team in a landmark work. ChoiceProviding a global perspective on student political activism in 29 countries, this reference work features in-depth essays by specialists who bring multidisciplinary insights to student movements, programs, and motivations and to the historical, political, social, and educational contexts in which these movements exist. Altbach defines student political activism and outlines the rationale behind this important collection of essays--why student political activism should be studied and who can benefit most from knowledge of this historically important force. He elaborates on how an understanding of the workings of student politics can benefit political leaders, members of the academic community, and the activists themselves. The historical role played by student political movements in the development of nationalism in Germany and in colonial nations in Asia and Africa is described, and the powerful university reform movements of Latin America are reviewed. Student activism is revealed to be a significant, perennial, and accepted factor in many Third World political arenas. However, in most parts of the world, student movements as a political force, whether right-wing, left-wing, liberal, or radical are characteristically sporadic but often very influential phenomena. The impossibility of a permanent revolution in the university is explained as are the sociological factors that tend to undermine sustained student movements. The impact and longevity of student movements depend to a certain extent, on the responses to activism by the mass media, by key social groups outside the universities, by the university authorities themselves, and by other extra-campus entities such as governments, and these factors are thoroughly investigated. Who Are the Activists considers activist leadership in a comparative context using available sociological research data to present a fascinating portrait of the students--their numbers, political and ideological characteristics, their major areas of study, and the socioeconomic backgrounds of their families of origin.United States student political activism is addressed in three separate chapters that cover the period from 1905 to 1960, the volatile 1960s, and the post-sixties, an era of transformation. Twenty-nine other essays survey activism in major countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Canada. An important reference tool and the first compilation on the topic in a decade, Student Political Activism will be extremely useful to specialists in international relations, political science, comparative education, and higher education as well as to students, college and university administrators, and librarians.

Private higher education is perhaps the most rapidly growing segment of postsecondary education worldwide. In this collection, the authors provide a multifaceted and comparative analysis of private higher education and consider both broad issues and specific case studies. The only book currently available to lend an international focus to this subject, it examines such topics as accreditation, funding, and the impact of the market in the context of Latin American, European, and Asian higher education, and is a unique and invaluable study for researchers and policymakers alike.Including case studies from Hungary, India, Mexico, Chile, and Malaysia, this book offers new perspectives on such key issues as the relationship of private higher education to social and economic development, competition among institutions, and the association between government and private universities. As private higher education has the potential to provide postsecondary access while limiting public expenditure, it is a significant subject that has thus far been accorded only the narrowest attention. This groundbreaking collection analyzes for the first time its implications in a variety of countries, both developed and developing.

Leadership for World-Class Universities reveals how "world-class" thinking and policy can help university leaders employ modern solutions to the challenges facing higher education today. Readers will benefit from best practice advice offered by distinguished international contributors who have excelled by thinking globally without losing sight of their respective national and local environments. Their essays are grounded in empirical research and written to engage the reader, stimulate reflection and enhance performance. This book focuses especially on developing and middle-income countries, which face special problems where higher education is expanding most rapidly.Key themes include:strategic planninggovernance of academic institutionsthe role of the academic professionfundraisingstudent access and equitythe impact of globalizationLeadership for World-Class Universities is a valuable resource for senior university administrators. At the heart of this volume is a focus on how academic leaders can work towards resolving the complex issues facing universities today.

Leadership for World-Class Universities reveals how "world-class" thinking and policy can help university leaders employ modern solutions to the challenges facing higher education today. Readers will benefit from best practice advice offered by distinguished international contributors who have excelled by thinking globally without losing sight of their respective national and local environments. Their essays are grounded in empirical research and written to engage the reader, stimulate reflection and enhance performance. This book focuses especially on developing and middle-income countries, which face special problems where higher education is expanding most rapidly.Key themes include:strategic planninggovernance of academic institutionsthe role of the academic professionfundraisingstudent access and equitythe impact of globalizationLeadership for World-Class Universities is a valuable resource for senior university administrators. At the heart of this volume is a focus on how academic leaders can work towards resolving the complex issues facing universities today.

In recent years, textbooks have been widely criticized for low standards, lack of imaginativeness, and insensitivity to racial and gender issues. Increasingly, they are cited as another "weak link" in American public education. This book goes beyond the headlines to examine how textbooks are produced, how they are selected, and what pressures are placed on textbook authors and publishers. The book focuses on the relationship of the textbook to the educational system and includes important issues such as the politics of textbook policy, the determinants of textbook content, the role of textbooks in educational reform, and the process of selection at the state level. The authors offer current research on textbook policy including perspectives from those directly involved with textbooks-from several thoughtful analyses by textbook editors and publishers to the views of California's Superintendent of Public Instruction.

This book explores key policy issues related to early childhood education. Through the contributions of various professionals in the field, the editors provide a vision, practical and possible, of early childhood education in the 1990s. Part I delves into the complex world, both personal and professional, of the classroom teacher. The essays in Part II look at issues of the school community, including the roles of class, race, gender, and exceptionality. Finally, Part III examines the relationship between schools and the community-at-large, and how complex issues find their way into social and economic policies that often stifle, rather than support, the democratic vision of American schools. Taken as a whole, the volume presents a stimulating discussion of the current state of early childhood education policy and practice.

In Emergent Issues in Education, leading scholars in comparative education and in the politics, sociology, anthropology, and economics of education illuminate worldwide trends in critical issues that confront policymakers and practitioners in different national settings.Among the topics raised and analyzed are the organization, governance, and financing of education; the content of curriculum, texts, and tests; and the quality and nature of teacher training. Among the issues examined is the tension that has emerged between the imperative to achieve equality of educational opportunity and the concern of educational decision makers to maintain and upgrade the quality of academic offerings.Aspects of this tension are manifested in the reform movements of the 1980s, especially the "excellence movement" that has resurfaced in the United States. Reform movements are evident in countries that have experienced increased enrollment at all levels of schooling in the post-World War II period. In the United States, as elsewhere, there has been a reassessment of the relevance of education to the economy and polity, and of the role of government and industry in education.

Provides specific examples of Asian educational practice that may have relevance to the United States.The Challenge of Eastern Asian Education highlights how Asian education policy and practice challenge American schools. The book focuses on innovations that the nations of the Pacific Rim have developed for their schools, and it analyzes how these educational systems have tried to meet the challenges of rapid social and economic change. It is unique in that it provides in-depth coverage of the Asian approach to education and explicitly discusses the implications of Asian education for America.There is special interest in Asian countries, not only because of their unparalleled economic success, but because Asian societies have been held up as models for social harmony and discipline. This book provides specific examples of Asian educational practice that may have relevance to the United States. It is unique in that it deals not only with Japan, which has received considerable attention, but with other Pacific Rim nations as well.

Provides specific examples of Asian educational practice that may have relevance to the United States.The Challenge of Eastern Asian Education highlights how Asian education policy and practice challenge American schools. The book focuses on innovations that the nations of the Pacific Rim have developed for their schools, and it analyzes how these educational systems have tried to meet the challenges of rapid social and economic change. It is unique in that it provides in-depth coverage of the Asian approach to education and explicitly discusses the implications of Asian education for America.There is special interest in Asian countries, not only because of their unparalleled economic success, but because Asian societies have been held up as models for social harmony and discipline. This book provides specific examples of Asian educational practice that may have relevance to the United States. It is unique in that it deals not only with Japan, which has received considerable attention, but with other Pacific Rim nations as well.

The current era in higher education is characterized by increased need for accountability and fiscal constraint coupled with demands for increased productivity. Higher education is expected to meet the demand of changing student demographics, as well as requests for research and service from government and industry. To preserve the academy's ability to meet these demands, the editors and contributors to this volume argue that, while change is inevitable and desirable, any radical alterations to the practices that have established and upheld the excellence of higher education in the United States must be carefully considered.The editors and contributors cherish the best ideals of higher education: academic freedom, commitment to both inquiry and teaching, and preservation of an independence of mind and spirit in the face of external pressures. At the same time, the authors of these essays also reflect upon the failings of higher education, including problematic historical legacies such as racism, sexism, and anti-semitism. In Defense of American Higher Education is a careful analysis of what we have inherited, undertaken with a critical eye for constructive reform.It will be of interest to anyone concerned about the future of American higher education.

The current era in higher education is characterized by increased need for accountability and fiscal constraint coupled with demands for increased productivity. Higher education is expected to meet the demand of changing student demographics, as well as requests for research and service from government and industry. To preserve the academy's ability to meet these demands, the editors and contributors to this volume argue that, while change is inevitable and desirable, any radical alterations to the practices that have established and upheld the excellence of higher education in the United States must be carefully considered.The editors and contributors cherish the best ideals of higher education: academic freedom, commitment to both inquiry and teaching, and preservation of an independence of mind and spirit in the face of external pressures. At the same time, the authors of these essays also reflect upon the failings of higher education, including problematic historical legacies such as racism, sexism, and anti-semitism. In Defense of American Higher Education is a careful analysis of what we have inherited, undertaken with a critical eye for constructive reform.It will be of interest to anyone concerned about the future of American higher education.

Since 1980, higher education access and endorsement have grown more dramatically in Asia than in any other area of the world. Both developed and developing nations are witnessing rapid expansion in the higher education sector. Nor is this progress entirely quantitative: a number of Asian universities are on a par with the finest institutions of higher education in the U.S. and Europe. Until now, however, there has been little historical analysis and virtually no comparative analysis of Asian higher education. This volume offers a detailed comparative study of the emergence of the modern university in Asia, linking the historical development of universities in the region with contemporary realities and future challenges. The contributors describe higher education systems in eleven countries-Korea, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Phillippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and Japan-and explore similarities and differences through two comparative essays.Each case study includes a discussion of the nature and influence of both indigenous and European educational traditions; a detailed analysis of development patterns; and a close examination of such contemporary issues as population growth and access, cost, the role of private higher education, the research system, autonomy, and accountability.

Since 1980, higher education access and endorsement have grown more dramatically in Asia than in any other area of the world. Both developed and developing nations are witnessing rapid expansion in the higher education sector. Nor is this progress entirely quantitative: a number of Asian universities are on a par with the finest institutions of higher education in the U.S. and Europe. Until now, however, there has been little historical analysis and virtually no comparative analysis of Asian higher education. This volume offers a detailed comparative study of the emergence of the modern university in Asia, linking the historical development of universities in the region with contemporary realities and future challenges. The contributors describe higher education systems in eleven countries-Korea, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Phillippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and Japan-and explore similarities and differences through two comparative essays.Each case study includes a discussion of the nature and influence of both indigenous and European educational traditions; a detailed analysis of development patterns; and a close examination of such contemporary issues as population growth and access, cost, the role of private higher education, the research system, autonomy, and accountability.

Nations with strong research universities are better able to compete in the international marketplace of ideas and innovation. Any country-especially in the developing world-striving to participate in the global knowledge economy must recognize the power of such institutions to transform society. In World Class Worldwide, analysts from developing and middle-income countries in Asia and Latin America explore their countries' specific challenges in providing "world class" higher education. Philip G. Altbach, Jorge Balan, and their contributors combine current scholarship and practical experience in presenting a comprehensive discussion of the significant issues facing research universities in Mexico, China, India, and elsewhere. They address the special challenges of establishing and maintaining these institutions; the role of information technology; how research universities train leaders and foster scientific innovation; and the extent to which the private sector can and should be involved in funding and development.

Nations with strong research universities are better able to compete in the international marketplace of ideas and innovation. Any country-especially in the developing world-striving to participate in the global knowledge economy must recognize the power of such institutions to transform society. In World Class Worldwide, analysts from developing and middle-income countries in Asia and Latin America explore their countries' specific challenges in providing "world class" higher education. Philip G. Altbach, Jorge Balan, and their contributors combine current scholarship and practical experience in presenting a comprehensive discussion of the significant issues facing research universities in Mexico, China, India, and elsewhere. They address the special challenges of establishing and maintaining these institutions; the role of information technology; how research universities train leaders and foster scientific innovation; and the extent to which the private sector can and should be involved in funding and development.

The purpose of this series is to bring together the main currents in today's higher education and examine such crucial issues as the changing nature of education in the U.S., the considerable adjustment demanded of institutions, administrators, the faculty; the role of Catholic education; the remarkable growth of higher education in Latin America, contemporary educational concerns in Europe, and more. Among the many specific questions examined in individual articles are: Is it true that women are subtly changing the academic profession? How is power concentrated in academic organizations? How successful are Latin America's private universities? What is the correlation between higher education and employment in Spain? Is minority graduate education in the U.S. producing the desired results?

The purpose of this series is to bring together the main currents in today's higher education and examine such crucial issues as the changing nature of education in the U.S., the considerable adjustment demanded of institutions, administrators, the faculty; the role of Catholic education; the remarkable growth of higher education in Latin America, contemporary educational concerns in Europe, and more. Among the many specific questions examined in individual articles are: Is it true that women are subtly changing the academic profession? How is power concentrated in academic organizations? How successful are Latin America's private universities? What is the correlation between higher education and employment in Spain? Is minority graduate education in the U.S. producing the desired results?

The purpose of this series is to bring together the main currents in today's higher education and examine such crucial issues as the changing nature of education in the U.S., the considerable adjustment demanded of institutions, administrators, the faculty; the role of Catholic education; the remarkable growth of higher education in Latin America, contemporary educational concerns in Europe, and more. Among the many specific questions examined in individual articles are: Is it true that women are subtly changing the academic profession? How is power concentrated in academic organizations? How successful are Latin America's private universities? What is the correlation between higher education and employment in Spain? Is minority graduate education in the U.S. producing the desired results?

The positive contribution of tertiary education is increasingly recognized as not limited to middle-income and advanced countries, since it applies equally to low-income economies. Tertiary education can help countries become more globally competitive by developing a skilled, productive, and flexible labor force and by creating, applying, and spreading new ideas and technologies. Research universities are reckoned among the central institutions of the 21st century knowledge economies. This book extends the analysis of the framework presented in The Challenge of Establishing World-Class Universities (Salmi 2009) and by examining the recent experience of 11 universities in nine countries that have grappled with the challenges of building successful research institutions in difficult circumstances and learning from the lessons of these experiences.

The positive contribution of tertiary education is increasingly recognized as not limited to middle-income and advanced countries, since it applies equally to low-income economies. Tertiary education can help countries become more globally competitive by developing a skilled, productive, and flexible labor force and by creating, applying, and spreading new ideas and technologies. Research universities are reckoned among the central institutions of the 21st century knowledge economies. This book extends the analysis of the framework presented in The Challenge of Establishing World-Class Universities (Salmi 2009) and by examining the recent experience of 11 universities in nine countries that have grappled with the challenges of building successful research institutions in difficult circumstances and learning from the lessons of these experiences.

In 1983 the National Commission on Excellence in Education issued a report calling for the total reassessment of policy and curriculum governing American education. The commission's findings were met with impassioned interest and volcanic debate. Seemingly overnight, the "education crisis" became a battleground on which citizens, education professionals and numerous organized groups fought for America's children. Nowhere is this more evident than in the compilation of essays contained in "Excellence in Education". Five areas of investigation are focused upon in this comprehensive volume: an overview of the debate occasioned by the report; a consideration of the social, political, and economic content of the report; how reform will affect policies initiated in the 60's and 70's; how reforms impact on curriculum, teacher preparation, and student success; and the historical implications of past reform movements in education.

The Knowledge Context adds an important, new dimension to the study of publishing and the distribuition of knowledge in the international arena. Drawing from more than a decade of research, Philip G. Altbach examines a variety of issues including international copyright, textbooks, technological developments in publishing, and the role of book distribution. Those interested in publishing and the dissemination of knowledge will find this a helpful resource for understanding this critical enterprise.

The Knowledge Context adds an important, new dimension to the study of publishing and the distribuition of knowledge in the international arena. Drawing from more than a decade of research, Philip G. Altbach examines a variety of issues including international copyright, textbooks, technological developments in publishing, and the role of book distribution. Those interested in publishing and the dissemination of knowledge will find this a helpful resource for understanding this critical enterprise.

There is a real need for a clear analysis and investigation of what the "crisis" in teaching actually is. By exploring the definition of the teaching crisis, investigating the evidence for its existence and reforms proposed to "solve" it, and studying the possible effects of proposed reforms, the authors of Crisis in Teaching address this need. Their work constitutes one of the first sustained and critical analyses of teachers and teaching in the contemporary situation. The authors, among the nation's leading critical thinkers in the field of education, reflect a variety of perspectives as they attempt to unravel the current rhetoric of crisis and question solutions that are, in effect, too often simplistic and superficial in their analyses and proposals.