This article first draws together a range of published statistics to analyse trends in participation in higher education in the UK over recent years. That provides evidence of the shifting profile in the student population and sets a context for examining emerging evidence of the impact of recent government policy decisions on control of student…

Three university ranking systems in vogue have been shown in the previous issue of "Higher Education Review" to be capable of modifications to make them more parsimonious by using only about half of the number of predictors currently in use. This makes some of the predictors "redundant" as they contributed little to the overall ranking. It is…

The outcome of university ranking is of much interest and concern to the many stakeholders, including university's sponsors, administrators, staff, current and prospective students, and the public. The results of rankings presented in the form of league tables, analogous to football league tables, attract more attention than do the processes by…

This article presents a keynote address delivered by Al Gini, Professor of Business Ethics in the School of Business Administration at Loyola University in Chicago, at the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) 93rd Annual Conference, March 26, 2008, New Orleans, Louisiana, on the topic of "Liberal Education in an Interdependent…

There is a perception of crisis in UK higher education, particularly in England. This article identifies elements of the perceived crisis, quantifies the depth of the crisis from the perceptions of a sample of nearly 300 academic staff, and exemplifies the gap between stated policy and the realities of delivery. Comparisons are made between…

There has been a steady growth in the number of national university league tables over the last 25 years. By contrast, "World University Rankings" are a more recent development and have received little serious academic scrutiny in peer-reviewed publications. Few researchers have evaluated the sources of data and the statistical approaches used.…

Examines complexities and offers generic criticisms of three current approaches to innovation (total quality management, restructuring, reengineering). Notes difficulties and discusses specific problems related to: interrelatedness of planning, doing and evaluating; excessive time demands and paperwork; lack of balance between process and product;…

Seven plans for financing higher education's expansion in the United Kingdom are described, analyzed, and compared, particularly as each addresses three issues: student loan program design; tuition; and student loan repayment. Criteria for evaluating the plans include efficiency, equity, and implications for stability of public spending. The…

Surveys of Australian (n=293) and British (n=103) college faculty in 1993 assessed reactions to structural changes in the university systems in those countries. The survey investigated perceptions of institutional culture, resources, advantages, status of women academics, the change process, role of research, workload, faculty evaluation, mission,…

Two pilot programs designed to improve and maintain quality in European higher education are described and compared: an audit of universities' procedures for quality assurance; and an assessment of programs of study, including teaching and learning, student characteristics, staff, facilities, and quality management. Both include institutional…

Progress of British students embarking on doctoral degrees in the 1980s was analyzed for factors in completion of doctoral degrees. Results show funding had insignificant positive impact on completion rate, completion rate was highest in the sciences, ability (measured by first degree type) affected doctoral completion, and part-time status (or…

Institutional characteristics and expenditures for the single-campus University of Paris X Nanterre and the multicampus University of Paris I--Pantheon-Sorbonne are compared, with tables of unit expenditures included. (LBH)

A discussion of the trend toward part-time enrollment in higher education in Great Britain looks at part-time student characteristics and preparation, the relative enrollment rates for institution types, progress and failure data, and academic achievement in degree programs. (MSE)

A survey of corporations and universities concerning their organizational policies and practices for early retirement found that in general, retirement plans are about equal in benefits and options, but corporations offer far fewer opportunities for phased or gradual retirement. In this regard, the corporation severs its relationship with retirees…

The social and institutional factors affecting engineering and manufacturing trends in the two countries, and their educational implications, are analyzed. (MSE)