This book brings together the views of an international group of experts on the internationalization of higher education, covering such themes as the international rankings of universities and issues of funding and autonomy, and the improvements needed in the promotion and commercialization of university research. Particular attention is paid to the system of higher education in the United States of America, and its domination of the top rankings. These universities and their experiences are compared to the higher education systems in the transition economies of Eastern Europe, which serve as an example of the problems facing middle-income countries in terms of funding, the social and economic consequences of low rankings, and possible avenues of reform.
Introduction PART I: GLOBALIZATION, THE CHANGING NATURE OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND INTERNATIONAL RANKINGS OF UNIVERSITIES Challenges in the Quest to Create Global Qualifications and Standards are Driving Change in Education Systems Diversification, Rankings and their Conditions: General Problems and the Polish Example PART II: THE HIGH RANKINGS OF UNIVERSITIES FROM THE UNITED STATES: ENVIRONMENT, RESOURCES OR POLICIES? An Economic Perspective on Higher Education in the United States Making the Case for a Strong Research University: The University of Kentucky Top-20 Business Plan Promoting High Quality Teaching Practices in Higher Education: Lessons Learned from the United States Factors Limiting the International Competitiveness of European Universities Why are American Universities at the top of International Rankings? PART III: HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE NEW MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: LISBON, BOLOGNA AND BEYOND Analysis of Systemic Reasons for Lower Competitiveness of European Universities: the Case of Poland Institutional Determinants of the Development of Private Higher Education in Europe Looking for a Model of the Contemporary University Overcoming Barriers to University-Industry Cooperation with a Focus on the Information and Communications Technology Sector: The Czech Experience Conclusion
