This article critically analyses the current Maltese educational reform process, which aimed to transform educational governance in Malta from a centralized system to a more decentralized one. This longitudinal study adopted a multi-site inquiry of a sample of the colleges involving different stakeholders, including key policy-makers, college…

In Fall 2008, the Ontario government's ability to maintain and enhance a school system was tested as the economy suffered one of its most extreme downturns. This paper discusses the action adopted by the government. The unique measures undertaken by the government to lessen the impact of the economic crisis on students' learning is highlighted.

The author's argument revolves around the relationships between government agendas and the agency of teachers, and between them the intermediary role of management as "system leaders" of network forms. Network is a pluralistic concept: networks can serve very different educational-political interests. They offer the potential of new participatory…

Governments must govern; they must strike the balance between representing the diverse wishes of the people whilst also taking society forwards. Without maps of the future, they must choose which of various possible paths to follow. Only hindsight exposes the difference between visionary leadership and misguided fixation, and then only rarely.…

In this paper, the author demonstrates the importance of trust for educators. He describes the different developmental stages, different foundations, and different levels of trust. He also discusses what educational leaders can do about it by suggesting a number of different strategies: (1) recognizing that trust is a multi-level concept; (2)…

Education systems are constantly changing. The changes are driven by two main pressures. One type of pressure arises from changes in the economic, demographic and technological environments within which education operates. The other type of pressure arises from changes in society's normative values, beliefs and expectations. These two sets of…

This article draws on data from the authors' recent research project "The Impact of Performance Threshold Assessment on Teachers' Work", funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC R000239286) for two years from May 2001. Within its wider context of performance management the authors focused on "Threshold Assessment", employing a…

Analyzes current debate on changes in Japan's higher education system which involve "corporatizing" all national universities and introducing performance-based contractual funding. Suggests that these changes may be part of a complex game of struggle for control. (EV)

Examines changes in funding methodology for higher education in Hong Kong following the change in sovereignty, problems in financial management faced by universities because of these changes, and the actions they have taken to address the issues. (EV)

Recent tendencies that are likely to endanger free and creative research in Austria are discussed. It is suggested that the danger to free, autonomous research may stem from negligence of the state to provide an adequate organizational framework for research. (Author/SF)

The concept of collective autonomy is discussed as it refers to cooperation between universities. The need for a collective autonomy of universities, the aims and limits of such a concept, and means and opportunities for creating and fostering it are examined. (Author/SF)

Difficulties encountered by policy makers as they seek to preserve and increase efficiency in university management are discussed, using the system of higher education in West Germany as a frame of reference. Topics include the training, research, and service functions of the university, educational finance, and the state-university relationship.…

Transitions in the social and economic circumstances of Western postsecondary education are: changing numbers of students and jobs; the shift from elite values to educational goals that promote equality; the growing significance of the school government relationship; and stability rather than expansion. (JMD)

The development of a planning system for the Dutch university system is described. Focus is on the characteristics of higher education and its influence on planning, a previous planning system attempt and its failure, a comparison of the previous and present systems, and problems concerning the present system. (Author/JMD)

The background and development of "capacity planning," the procedure of reconciling social demand with government funding, in non-university-based professional education in the Netherlands is outlined. Issues arising from it are discussed. (MSE)