Marketisation in Higher Education, Clark's Triangle and the Essential Ingredients of Markets

While government intervention in the higher education market may be justified, it may come at the cost of lower consumer sovereignty and restricted producer autonomy. Through marketisation policy, students and higher education providers have more room to make their own trade‐offs and interact more closely on the basis of reliable information. This article discusses eight conditions for a market and the extent to which these are met in Dutch higher education. It is argued that there is still a key role for the government to co‐design framework conditions and facilitate interaction in a more demand‐driven and liberalised higher education sector.     

Towards the In‐College Evaluation of TEC Programmes

Abstract

The advent of the single European market has generated new demands for training and consultancy, and many further and higher education institutions have been anxious to exploit the commercial opportunities that have been created. In general, however, institutions have been more successful in providing training for the public sector than they have been for the private sector. A survey of FHE reveals the kinds of single‐market training that are on offer, and suggests that the training that is available needs to be more precisely geared to the requirements of business if colleges and universities are to make further inroads into the private sector. It is argued that much training is currently ‘supply led’ rather than ‘demand led’, and that institutions need to recognise important differences between information needs, skills needs and qualifications needs in the design of their single market provision. There are, however, examples of good practice, and institutions’ perceptions of their own needs in improving their European training are also discussed. The article concludes with some practical steps that institutions might consider in order to improve their single‐market training.

‘The training performance of industry and commerce in this country must be raised to meet the greater commitment and higher standards of other European countries.’

The words belong to the then Minister for Further and Higher Education, Robert Jackson, and were spoken in 1990 at the launch of the Department of Education and Science‐funded PICKUP Europe Unit ‐‐ an initiative designed to help further and higher education (FHE) to meet the training needs of industry and business in anticipation of the changes heralded by the single European market (SEM). Helping industry and business to respond to the challenges of the enlarged European market fitted well into the PICKUP scheme, which was intended to encourage FHE institutions to make their expertise and resources available for the purposes of updating and reskilling the labour force. It reflected the Government's desire to build a stronger link between education and wealth creation, and to foster competence‐based, as well as knowledge‐based, aspects of educational provision. The 282 measures associated with completion of the single market have made it increasingly important that workers at all levels are familiar with the new Europe in which they will produce goods and services, but just how effectively are further and higher education institutions facing up to their own challenge, and providing the ‘training for Europe’ that is considered so important in ensuring that British businesses exploit the opportunities of the single market?     

Institutional policies for part‐time undergraduate higher education in Scotland

Financial pressures, restrictions on full‐time participation and the public commitment to access and lifelong learning, suggest that part‐time provision may be increasingly important in undergraduate‐level higher education. However the scale and organisation of part‐time provision varies across institutions, and its future development may depend on decisions taken at institutional level. This paper describes Scottish institutions’ policies for part‐time provision of first degrees and Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNCs and HNDs). It is based on interviews with senior managers in all 23 Scottish higher education institutions (HEIs), and in 11 further education (FE) colleges. Most institutions planned to expand part‐time provision. New (post‐1992) universities were the most committed to expansion; non‐university HEIs and some old universities were the least committed. Policies for expanding part‐time provision were often part of a broader strategy for flexibility. The research revealed two contrasting models of flexibility: many universities pursued flexible integration, bringing full‐ and part‐time study into a common web of provision, whereas FE colleges typically pursued flexible differentiation, maintaining the distinctions between (and within) the modes. Institutional polices were influenced by four sets of factors: institutional mission, other institution‐specific factors, government policy and funding, and demand; funding arrangements and demand were seen as the main drivers. Finally, we question whether the greater formal autonomy of institutions led in practice to more independent decision‐making, and whether the trends anticipated by our interviewees are in fact well entrenched.     

Higher Education in Ethiopia: Expansion,Quality Assurance and Institutional Autonomy

This article chronicles the key challenges facing Ethiopia as it embarks on an ambitious, ideologically‐driven and aggressive expansion of its higher education system in an effort to address its national goals of economic growth and poverty reduction. It is argued that the urge for higher education expansion has placed undue pressures particularly on the state of quality enhancement and autonomy of universities. As government pressures for more expansion mounted, universities struggled with dwindling per student budgetary allocations, shortage of qualified staff, inadequate supply of much needed inputs and the erosion of their autonomy. It is suggested that while higher education expansion remains an important goal for Ethiopia for many years to come, a reasonable balance should be struck between the ideological aspects of expansion and the practical realities of limited resources, heightened concerns about the quality of student learning and the autonomy of universities.     

Globalization or Glocalization? Higher Education Reforms in Singapore

Globalization and the evolution of the knowledge‐based economy have caused dramatic changes to the character and functions of higher education in most countries around the world. However, the impacts of globalization on universities are not uniform though business‐like practices have been adopted to cope with competition in the global marketplace. The pressure for restructuring and reforming higher education is mainly derived from growing expectations and demands of different stakeholders in society. In recent years, widespread concerns over widened access, funding, accountability, quality, and managerial efficiency are perceived as the prominent global trends related to university education. Because of the divergent political, social, economic, cultural and historical backgrounds, national/local governments may adopt similar strategies in response to pressures generated from globalization. Nonetheless, through a close scrutiny of the ways that national policies are made, we may find that governments around the globe, particularly in East Asia, have tried to make use of the globalization discourse to address/justify the local policy/political agendas. This paper aims to examine the latest higher education reform initiatives proposed by the Singapore Government, with particular reference to reflect upon how the Singapore Government reforms its university systems in the context of globalization. It is argued that the latest comprehensive review of public university governance and funding brings about a changing role of the government in the regulation, finance and provision of higher education in Singapore and eventually alters the state‐university relationship.     

俄罗斯的国立大学、企业与国家新三位一体的矛盾分析

转轨后的俄罗斯国立高等教育在扩展经费来源的途径时,在政府的规范下与企业结成了新的三位一体.在整个教育产业市场化的过程中,俄罗斯国立与私立学校教育产业交错融合发展,宗教组织也以自己的方式参与其中.俄罗斯教育近年来接纳了大批来自企业的资金,这符合政府将教育定义为"商品",是教育产业市场化的初衷.但另一方面,俄罗斯政府决策层包括普京总统,又对企业对教育的过多干预表示不满,获得资金赠与的大学面对企业和政府的夹击陷入两难困境.大学、企业与国家的新三位一体充满了矛盾.     

学生合约与学生消费者：学习的市场化与高等教育公共产品性质的侵蚀

自20世纪80年代中期以来,全世界范围内接连出现的政府主导的改革将高等教育系统向"教科书般"经济市场越推越近已实施的改革包括公司化、引入竞争性资助、增加学费和其他费用、使用高校管理中产出模式和绩效报告。但是,没有一个国家面向本国学生的第一学位教育是按照真正的资本主义经济市场来运作的,没有研究型大学的发展是被股东、利润、市场份额、配置效率或商品形式所驱动的。在一些国家,只有职业培训和国际教育才会真正收取商业性质的学费。虽然高等教育中普遍存在激烈的竞争、企业家精神和消费者话语,但资本主义在其中没有一席之地;现有的高等教育市场充其量是一个受监管的准市场在许多国家,高等教育领域的"市场改革"不同于交通、通信、广播电视和医疗保险界的私有化和商业化。究其原因,本文发现真正的市场改革受制于高等教育领域特定的内在限度(公共产品、地位竞争)以及与这些限度相关的政治因素、高等教育市场改革计划在本质上是乌托邦式的,目前市场改革的抽象理想仍在持续并不是因为它具有真正实现的前景,而是由于外源性政策的推动(如财政缩减、政府控制等)。如果资本主义市场是无法实现的,为什么要继续假装它们可以实现呢?我们需要一个与教育系... 更多还原     

市场经济与高校办学自主权

市场经济一方面要求转变高等教育行政主管部门的职能,赋予高校一定的市场主体资格,以解决高校教育资源供求之间的矛盾,使高校有效参与国际交流与合作;另一方面,高校已经具备一定的驾驭市场经济的经验和能力,同时社会、政府以及法律的监管约束机制也已基本形成。当前可以从融资、专业和学科的创设、招生的方式与途径、收费或定价等方面考虑进一步扩大高校办学自主权。     

Combining planning and the market: an analysis of the Government strategy towards higher education in the Netherlands

This article discusses and analyses the government strategy towards higher education in the Netherlands as it has been designed and implemented since the publication of an influential policy document in 1985. This strategy intends to be a significant break with the traditional government attitude of detailed planning and control. It tries to strengthen the autonomy of the higher education institutions and to enlarge their adaptability to the needs of society. In this article the government strategy is characterized as a combination of two fundamental mechanisms of coordination: planning and the market. It is argued that the strategy shows that the Dutch government tries to address both market and non-market failures. However, by doing so, it has created a mixed bag of policies and instruments, demonstrating that government has not yet abandoned its confidence in its own capacity to successfully steer the higher education system.     

Assessing Competition on the Russian University Market Using a Modified Panzar-Rosse Model

This paper reviews some government policy measures aimed at strengthening competition in the Russian university market and looks at the best international practices in this area. It analyzes the competitive behavior of universities under the current government policy on higher education and research and development and suggests an approach to assessing the efficiency of government stimulation of competition among universities and to predicting the outcomes of applying existing stimulation tools. This paper presents the results of assessing the current level of competition in the Russian university market using a nonstructural method, an adjusted Panzar-Rosse competition assessment model. We used the value of grants received by universities as part of government orders as one of the model factors and also analyzed the effects of other factors describing the size, entrance requirements, and research activities of universities. This article investigates how university income depends on the value of grants received (a ratio of total income to the size of grants) and on the number of students and teachers. The level of competition in this market is characterized by the elasticity of the total income of an average university based on the value of grants received.     

大学生马克思主义民族观教育研究

大学生是社会的一个特殊群体,是社会主义事业的建设者和接班人,是维护社会稳定和民族团结的重要力量。因此,我们必须高度重视大学生的马克思主义民族观教育,把加强大学生马克思主义民族观教育,当成党和政府以及高等院校的重要任务之一。在全社会的共同努力下,培养造就一批专业化、高水准的马克思主义民族观教育的教师队伍,通过加强爱国主义教育;深入开展民族平等、民族团结和各民族共同繁荣的教育;拓展大学生马克思主义民族观教育新途径等措施和手段强化大学生马克思主义民族观教育。     

The Value of a “Core” Business‐‐a Case Study of the Involvement of an Australian University in Vietnam: 1993‐1998

This article describes how two dovetailing processes led Swinburne University of Technology of Melbourne, Australia, to the setting up of business studies programmes in Vietnam. One of the processes was the increasingly felt need in Australia to make higher education more cost efficient that stimulated the identification and the exploitation of non‐governmental sources of funding. The other one was the decision, taken in 1986 by the Vietnamese government, to move progressively to a market‐based economy. Thus the Vietnamese government created a demand for increasing numbers of professional workers schooled in Western concepts of business management, accounting, administration, etc. The Swinburne University of Technology responded to this demand in a number of creative ways by setting up collaborative course programmes in some of the major cities of Vietnam.     

集团上市对我国民办高校发展的影响 ——以X集团及其2所成员高校为例

我国一些民办高等教育集团在港股上市融资，对民办高等教育发展带来全新影响。通过对某上市的民办高等教育集团进行探索式案例分析，揭示出集团上市对旗下高校产生的影响：集团为民办高校铺设了联结政府和市场的沟通桥梁，上市融资扩充了集团的办学资本并影响了资源在成员高校之间的流动与配置，上市集团的管理理念和运作模式对高校传统办学体制产生了冲击。这些影响通过资本市场的介入和企业化管理体制的嵌套来施加，体现出教育、市场两种组织规律的博弈和融合。应慎重把握规模扩张和内涵发展之间的平衡关系，探索企业化管理和传统教育管理之间的融合模式，健全民办高校资产监管和质量评价机制。     

Japanese flagship universities at a crossroads

The increasing pace and scope of global structural change has left Japanese flagship universities at a crossroads. Reflecting upon historical trends, current policy changes and respective institutional strategies for global marketing among Japanese top research universities, the author discusses possible future directions for these institutions and how key decisions may be influenced by selected national policies. By taking a more active role in building flagship universities and making use of higher education for social and economic development, the Japanese government has already taken concrete measures to keep apace with higher education policies of neighboring Asian countries. However, in the author’s view, whether or not Japan can truly develop and maintain world-class universities ultimately depends on an overall improvement in the status of East Asian higher education.     

The policy cycle and vernacular globalization: a case study of the creation of Vietnam National University—Hochiminh City

This article examines the policy cycle and vernacular globalization in the context of higher education reform in Vietnam. Through an analysis of the development of the Vietnam National University—Hochiminh City as part of the post‐1986 reconstruction of Vietnamese higher education, the article considers the complex interrelationship between globalized policy discourses, national interests and history in Vietnam, and the specific politics of policy implementation within one institution. Vietnam National University—Hochiminh City was created through an amalgamation of a number of smaller universities, and against the backdrop of social and economic restructuring aimed at promoting industrialization and a market orientation within socialist governance. The article reveals the dynamic tension between these local and global influences on higher education policy and practice, and more specifically, the dilemmas associated with top‐down policy implementation when a new organization consists of older organizations with powerful provenance and reputations. In so doing the article demonstrates the necessity to globalize policy theory.     

The Australian University in a Multicultural Environment

This article describes how the Australian university system has become increasingly multi‐ethnic and multicultural as a reflection of the greater Australian society that is also increasingly multicultural and multi‐ethnic. As the universities have evolved from being elitist institutions, based on a British model and accessible to only a small proportion of the population, to units making up a mass system, they have had to contend with two contradictory forces: government mandated efforts to increase the representation on university campuses of disadvantaged groups and pressures to reduce government spending for higher education. Increasing efforts, after 1990, on the part of Australian universities to recruit full‐fee paying foreign students have intensified student multi‐ethnicity on Australian campuses while providing near windfall sources of extra funds. Yet there are voices being raised regarding the propriety and the ethics of selling higher education in this way.     

Educational Accountability in a Regulated Market

Public debate about school choice is often polarized between those who favor and oppose total free markets in education. However, the serious intellectual work on choice focuses on more moderate alternatives that involve a mixture of public and private accountability. A regulated market model of educational accountability would mix government regulation, options for families, and entrepreneurship on the supply side. It would sustain a role for government in licensing schools, protecting children, punishing misrepresentation, and ensuring free flow of information. This article shows how a regulated market in education would work and how one could be created.     

Markets, Educational Opportunities and Education: Reply to Tooley

James Tooley argues that educational institutions offer educational opportunities rather than provide education. On this basis he claims that education can be offered without state intervention. It is argued here that education is not about the provision of opportunities but about preparation for life, and preparation for life is not an option among others. The consequences of this view are drawn out and it is argued that universal education can only be reliably provided by a central body such as the state and cannot be left to market forces as Tooley claims.     

A Pervasive Apartheid? An Analysis of Changing Higher Education in South Africa and its Relationship with the State

This paper reviews briefly the relationship between the South African government and higher education. This relationship, which has shaped the landscape of higher education, is looked at on the premise that public institutions depend to a large extent on government for funding and other resources, and as such there has been constant influence and interference in higher education affairs. Whereas under colonial rule, the relationship mimicked that of the Scottish and British universities, the postcolonial relationships had their own characteristics, emulating government policies under apartheid and confirming therefore the establishment of two‐tier university systems. Like most African countries, South Africa is currently faced with an immense task to bring together economic, social and political stability. This requires proactive national policies to develop particular skills and therefore a focused intervention and delivery within and through the institutions of higher education.     

Tensions in Higher Education Leadership: Towards a Multi‐Level Model of Leadership Practice

UK higher education is undergoing a period of significant change that generates a series of tensions and difficulties for universities and university leaders. This paper explores these tensions through analysis of findings from a study comprising 152 semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews in 12 UK universities. Building on from theories of ‘distributed leadership’ in schools, five main constituent elements of leadership practice in higher education are identified (personal, social, structural, contextual and developmental) and explored to show how they shape perceptions and experiences of leadership. The paper concludes with a refined model that teases apart the multilayered nature of higher education leadership at individual, group and organisational levels. In particular, it is argued that ‘social capital’ and ‘social identity’ act as important bridges between individual agency and organisational structure and that although widely distributed, higher education leadership may be best regarded as ‘hybrid’.