The Global University—Past, Present, and Future Perspectives

The product of an international research project involving scholars from China, Australia, Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States, this volume engages a topic of pressing concern for government, business, and education leaders around the world: the race to establish 'world-class' universities. Some herald the globalization of higher education as the key to a dynamic and productive 'knowledge society.' Others worry that modern universities have come to resemble multinational corporations in their strategies and values. This volume addresses these issues by situating the globalization of higher education in a broad comparative-historical context. Chronologically, it extends from the medieval period to the early modern, modern, and postmodern eras; geographically, it ranges from East and Southeast Asia to Australia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and North America. Its ten essays will appeal to all who are interested in the history and politics of higher education, the sociology of knowledge, and modern university leadership.

Adam R. Nelson is a professor of Educational Policy Studies and History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Ian P. Wei is a senior lecturer in Medieval European History at the University of Bristol.