European Universities and the Challenge of the Market

UK academics are frequently exhorted to integrate a European (and global) perspective into their syllabuses, especially where their students are drawn from a wide variety of national backgrounds. But this is difficult when there is a dearth of detailed, accessible contemporary accounts of national practices elsewhere. This edited book goes a very long way to help them. It offers detailed, rigorously researched descriptions of the nature and effects on higher education of its “marketisation” – descriptions rooted in robust theoretical and conceptual frameworks which help the reader situate the descriptions in their own context.’ – Paul Trowler, Lancaster University, UK

Introduction: European Universities Meet the Market Marino Regini PART I: COMPARATIVE ANALYSES 1. Re-designing Curricula: The Involvement of Economic Actors Gabriele Ballarino 2. The Re-organization of Research Sabrina Colombo 3. Student Services and the Labour Market Renata Semenza 4. Funding, Assessment and Governance Loris Perotti 5. The Challenge of the Market Marino Regini PART II: COUNTRY STUDIES 6. UK: The University as Economic Actor Sabrina Colombo 7. The Netherlands: A Difficult Marketization Loris Perotti 8. Germany: Continuity through Change Gabriele Ballarino 9. Investing in Change: The Uneven Outcomes of French Higher Education Renata Semenza 10. Italy: Gradual Changes and an Uncertain Autonomy Gabriele Ballarino and Loris Perotti 11. Spain: Major Reforms and Mixed Performance Loris Perotti Conclusions: Where Are European Universities Going Marino Regini References Index