This paper argues that in the last decade, Australian higher education has moved from a relatively regulated to a largely unregulated model, resulting in reduction of institutional diversity. The advent of external quality assurance processes that reward the traditional notion of universities has further homogenized the system and diluted…

The role of the University Visitor, whose traditional function is to mediate conflict within a university and contribute to its governance, is examined in the context of Australian higher education. Medieval English ecclesiastical origins of the office are described, and calls for abolition are examined. It is argued that the office should be…

Drawing on literature; conferences; interviews in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom; and two surveys in Canada, the organization and administration of graduate study is examined. Focus is on program design and administration, supervision of graduate students, student progress and completion, and quality. Recommendations are made for…

A study of 185 undergraduate students withdrawing from a publicly-funded Canadian university compared student characteristics and experiences (demography, academic performance, employment, financial support, social integration, personal circumstances, and perception of university learning experience) for three discipline areas (arts, education,…

A survey of 671 faculty at 7 New Zealand universities investigated attitudes toward faculty rank and remuneration systems in New Zealand, Britain, and the United States. Results indicated no majority support for either foreign system, and showed considerable dissatisfaction with the domestic system. It is concluded that sustained effort is needed…

A discussion of reform in Australian higher education in the current context of rapid social, economic, and administrative change looks at several areas of concern: the direction of the institutions; an imbalance of management and substance; and a new conformism that encourages generic institutions based on an international model and inhibits…

The nature and impact of reforms since 1988 in British education, both compulsory and postsecondary, are examined, focusing on changes in organizational structure and financing mechanisms. The success of these changes in meeting their objectives is assessed, and unresolved issues are identified. (MSE)

Predictions made in 1978 about Australian higher education are re-examined. Very inaccurate enrollment predictions are attributed to unforeseen demand and supply influences. The end to the binary system of higher education, a major change in 1989, was not predicted. However, early analyses of relationships between education, employment, and…

The nature and effects of Australian efforts to create and maintain quality higher education are examined, focusing on specific government initiatives and on international trends and influences. It is suggested that even the best quality assurance processes do not guarantee good results, and that quality is a complex phenomenon depending on an…

The Teaching Allocation and Management Model (TAMM) designed to help university department administrators assign faculty to courses is described, noting its strengths and limitations. The model has been used in business departments, but is seen as adaptable to any discipline. Formulas for budgeting are included in the model. (MSE)

Changes in women's participation in Australian higher education since the 1950s, primarily as employees, are examined in the context of policies and structures in place during that period. Factors influencing employment and promotion of women university employees are discussed, and action that could be taken at personal and system levels to…

To help assess Australian universities' compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act, a study examined implementation in the United States of the Americans with Disabilities Act in five state universities seen as leaders in innovation for students and staff with disabilities. Implications of the American experience for the Australian context…

Increasing Malaysian demand for business education is examined from the perspective of Australia, one of the largest suppliers to the region. Topics discussed include: origins and nature of the demand; Malaysian enrollment patterns in Australia; "twinning programs," in which a Malaysian college and a foreign university collaborate to meet such…

Uses Robert Pirsig's ideas in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" to explore two ways of viewing quality in higher education: the romantic and the classic. Analyzes historical and contemporary literature on quality using insights of Alfred Whitehead, Pirsig, and John Dewey, urging a vision that is honest and that incorporates caring,…