European higher education policies that were first developed as an empirical, short-term response to financial difficulties at the start of the decade have now assumed a long-term strategic character that affects the relationships between government and higher education and between society and higher education. (MSE)

Significant changes made in the French university system in a brief period, affecting teaching, curriculum, degree programs, and institutional evaluation, are examined to determine whether they represent a break from or continuation of an earlier situation. Issues underlying current trends are also discussed. (MSE)

An official British white paper and a law creating broad reforms in higher education reflect the government's acceptance and promotion of the ideology of privatization and are part of a policy trend affecting all levels of the educational system. (MSE)

Recent changes in Finnish higher education are characterized by increased political trust and a desire to give the system a more important social role, by increasing direct public accountability through institutional evaluation and encouraging internal leadership and academic self-regulation. The changes will require more advanced institutional…

The West German debate over state-controlled higher education planning versus market-oriented competition is examined in the context of recent West German educational history, actions taken by the federal government and science council, institutional reactions, and research on the use of performance indicators. (MSE)

Concern about the legitimate role of the government in evaluating higher education institutions has developed as a result of a 1985 Dutch proposal for decentralization that combines a formal national quality control system with increased institutional autonomy through self-regulation. The issues are outlined. (MSE)

Belgian official policy toward the teaching profession as developed in the last 10 years is examined in the context of the special situation of education in Belgian society, its complicated relations with the government, and the position it occupies in Belgian politics. (MSE)

It is proposed that changes in interuniversity cooperation in the Netherlands are a reflection of changes in university management and governance, which in turn are a reflection of changes in the political culture of the country, especially in the attitude of the central government toward the universities. (MSE)

The implications of Sweden's recent policy trend toward broad decentralization in government for the education system in general, and higher education in particular, are discussed, including issues of local involvement and central reforms, autonomy and local governance, and bureaucratization. (MSE)

A review of trends in European higher education policy leads to these conclusions: (1) government response to economic crises has been either to strengthen expenditure-driven policies or to continue demand-based policies; (2) central government oversight has been strengthened; and (3) commitment to linking education and industry has become clear.…

Concerns of a researcher in a Belgian university regarding the trend toward policy implementation dominated by short- and medium-term budgetary considerations are outlined. The university system's heterogeneous, compartmentalized nature and potential are noted, along with the relationship to the government and the real danger of break-up of the…

Ireland's higher education system has recently experienced significant growth and organizational change, accompanied by decreased institutional autonomy. However, a trend favoring investment in technological education has prompted concern among traditional institutions, which may persist as long as two authorities rather than one control the…

In British higher education, the period since 1979 has been characterized by severe external pressure, loss of political support, reduced budgets, and a demographically-driven enrollment decline. Underneath the public discussion of these issues are emerging new structures and ideas for change, accelerating a long-dormant reform process. (MSE)

Projected changes in the West German higher education system such as more competition, differentiation and efficiency, and especially the introduction of institutional autonomy are the most ambitious in recent history and will demand the cooperation of federal and local government, educational authorities, institutions, academic and research…

Many of our models of the university espouse a monolithic concept of autonomy. The Kantian model, based on specific realms of state intervention and nonintervention, should be explored more thoroughly because it allows for intervention while maintaining some notion of autonomy. (Author/MSE)