The Global University Past, Present, and Future Perspectives

by Nelson, Adam R.; Wei, Ian P.

• ISBN13: 9780230392458
• ISBN10: 0230392458
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-04-24
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

The product of an international research project involving scholars from China, Australia, Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, this volume engages a topic of pressing concern for government, business, and education leaders around the world: the race to establish 'world-class' universities. Some herald the globalization of higher education as the key to a dynamic and productive 'knowledge society.' Others worry that modern universities have come to resemble multinational corporations in their strategies and values. This volume addresses these issues by situating the globalization of higher education in a broad comparative-historical context. Chronologically, it extends from the medieval period to the early modern, modern, and postmodern eras; geographically, it ranges from East and Southeast Asia to Australia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and North America. Its ten essays will appeal to all who are interested in the history and politics of higher education, the sociology of knowledge, and modern university leadership.

Author Biography

Adam R. Nelson is a professor of Educational Policy Studies and History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ian P. Wei is a senior lecturer in Medieval European History at the University of Bristol.

Table of Contents

"Armed with a powerful historical perspective and rich evidences across continents, this volume strongly attacks notions a lineal globalization and its inevitable consequence of sameness in the international terrain of higher education." - Rui Yang, University of Hong Kong"Universities are among the oldest and most international of institutions. Is the 'global university' of the twenty-first century something entirely new, or the heir to a long tradition? This thought-provoking book shows that we need a historical perspective for a full understanding of current problems and for an informed response to them." - Robert Anderson, author of British Universities Past and Present