International Higher Education, Spring 2005
New Publications
Becker, William E., and Moya L. Andrews, eds. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Contributions of Research Universities. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2004. 338 pp (hb). ISBN 0-253-34424-7. Address: Indiana University Press, 601 N. Morton St., Bloomington IN 47404, USA.
Based on case studies at Indiana University, a major public research university, this book focuses on Ernest Boyer's ideas on the importance of teaching in academic work, measurement of teaching excellence, and the contributions of teaching to scholarly work. Chapters discuss innovations in this area in various departments and programs at Indiana University.
Broadhead, Richard H. The Good of This Place: Values and Challenges in College Education. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2004. 204 pp. $25 (hb). ISBN 0-300-10600-9. Address: Yale University Press, POB 209040, New Haven CT 06520, USA.
This volume contains a selection of essays on a range of themes relating to contemporary American higher education, including academic freedom and free speech, residential education, challenges facing undergraduates, among others.
Delamont, Sara, and Paul Atkinson. Successful Research Careers: A Practical Guide. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press, 2004. 211 pp. (pb). ISBN 033521201-8. Address: Open University Press, McGraw-Hill House, Shoppenhangers Rd., Maidenhead, Berks SL6 2QL, UK.
A guide to professionals in higher education seeking to pursue a research career, this volume focuses on mentoring, publication, the process of writing, assessment, and other topics. The data and cases are from the United Kingdom, but the themes are relevant internationally.
Dew, John Robert, and Molly McGowen Nearing. Continuous Quality Improvement in Higher Education. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2004. 208 pp. $39.95. (hb). ISBN 0-275-98389-7. Address: Praeger Publishers, POB 5007, Westport, CT 06881, USA.
Continuous improvement, another trend in the management of higher education institutions, is the focus of this volume. U.S. accrediting standards mandate that universities should be concerned about monitoring and improving their practices continually, and the authors advocate the use of focus groups, self-assessment, benchmarking, and involving students and faculty in the tasks of improvement.
Fisher, James L., and James V. Koch. The Entrepreneurial College President. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2004. 178 pp. $39.95 (hb). ISBN 0-275-98122-3. Address: Praeger Publishers, POB 5007, Westport CT 06881, USA.
An inquiry into the entrepreneurial attitudes and activities of more than 700 American college and university presidents, this book discusses how academic leaders have adjusted to the new entrepreneurialism in higher education. The researchers believe that the most effective presidents will have entrepreneurial skills. The results of the survey are reported as well as brief discussions of presidents considered to be exercising entrepreneurial leadership.
Herndon, Peter, and Robert E. Dugan, eds. Outcomes Assessment in Higher Education. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2004. 349 pp. $50 (pb). ISBN 1-59158-098-6. Address: Libraries Unlimited, POB 5007, Westport, CT 06881, USA.
The theme of this volume is higher education quality as reflected through outcomes assessment. A range of themes relating to assessment and accountability are considered, including a number of practical guides to effective assessment by institutions and individual faculty members. The focus is on the United States, except for one comparative chapter.
Kahlenberg, Richard D., ed. America's Untapped Resource: Low-Income Students in Higher Education. New York: Century Foundation Press, 2004. 197 pp. (pb). ISBN 0-87078-485-4. Address: Century Foundation Press, 41 E. 70th St., New York, NY 10021, USA.
Noting that two-thirds of young people from the wealthiest quartile of the American population enter college, as opposed to only one-fifth from the poorest quartile, this volume focuses on the need to increase the proportion of students from low-income families in U.S. higher education. Essays discuss the key issues of affordability of higher education for low-income students, improving academic preparation and performance, and the need to increase the proportion of low-income students at the most selective colleges and universities. While this book focuses entirely on the United States, the issue of participation by low-income populations is relevant everywhere.
Krahenbuhl, Gary S. Building the Academic Deanship: Strategies for Success. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2004. 243 pp. $44.95 (hb). ISBN 0-275-983126-9. Address: Praeger Publishers, 88 Post Rd., West, Westport CT 06881, USA.
A guide to the intricacies of the academic deanship in American higher education, this book discusses the characteristics of a successful dean and then analyzes the various aspects of the position. These include working with faculty members, student relations, external relations and fund raising, research, and other topics. The goal of this book is to provide new deans with a sense of the academic enterprise. While focusing on the United States, many of the elements will be broadly relevant.
Observatory on Borderless Higher Education. Mapping Borderless Higher Education: Policy, Markets, and Competition. London: Association of Commonwealth Universities, 2004. 404 pp. (pb) ISBN-085143-187-9. Address: Association of Commonwealth Universities, 36 Gordon Sq., London WC1H OPF, UK.
The OBHE provides some of the most up-to-date and useful information available on international trends in higher education, especially with regard to patterns of cross-border programs and institutions. This book includes reports on such issues as patterns of private growth, transnational markets for higher education, GATS and its implications, trends in the trade of educational services, share price trends among private providers of higher education, and other related themes. Additional information concerning the OBHE can be found on their website (http://www.obhe.ac.uk).
OECD. Internationalization and Trade in Higher Education: Opportunities and Challenges. Paris: OECD, 2004. 316 pp. €50 (pb). ISBN 92-94-64-01504-3. Address: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Develoment, 2 rue Andre Pascal, 75775 Paris 16, France.
A comprehensive analysis of cross-border higher education in the three OCED regions—Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America—this book features detailed essays on each region discussing patterns of student flows, distance education, branch campuses, and other initiatives. Several informative overview chapters provide analysis and statistical information on patterns of international trends in higher education throughout the OECD. This book is one of the most complete surveys of the topic available.
OECD. Quality and Recognition in Higher Education: The Cross-border Challenge. Paris: OECD, 2004. 203 pp. €30 (pb). ISBN 92-94-01508-6. Address: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2 rue Andre Pascal, 75775 Paris 16, France.
An overview of issues relating to quality assurance and cross-border degree recognition in the OECD countries, this book includes research-based essays on the topic on the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, and non-OECD countries. There are also discussions of trade agreements (mainly GATS), degree recognition, and an overview of key topics.
Pawlowski, Krzysztof. Rediscovering Higher Education in Europe. Bucharest, Romania: UNESCO-CEPES, 2004. 145 pp. (pb). ISBN 92-9069-180-X. Address: CEPES, 39 Stirbei Voda, Bucharest, Romania.
A broad-ranging essay on the future of higher education, focusing on Europe and particularly on Poland, this volume considers the American challenges to European higher education, the role of knowledge and research, the management of universities, and other topics. The experience of the author as the founder of a private university in Poland informs the analysis.
Potts, Anthony. Civic Leaders and the University. Bern, Switzerland: Peter Lang, 2003. 407 pp. $56.95, ¤61.40. (hb). ISBN 3-906769-54-2. Address: Peter Lang Publishers, POB 350, CH 2542 Pieterlen, Switzerland.
This book explores the relationship between regional political leaders and the development of two universities in Australia. The focus is on the role of civil and political leaders in the development and support of academic institutions. The case studies provide detail concerning the interplay between politics, concepts of development, and the establishment of universities.
Powar, K. B., and K. L. Johar, eds. Private Initiatives in Higher Education. Yamuna Nagar, India: Sneh Prakashan, 2004. 283 pp. Rs. 500. U.S.$30 (hb). OSBN 81-901986-1-0. Address: Sneh Prakashan, 521-L Model Town, Jamuna Nagar 135001, India.
Focusing on India, this book discusses the variations in India’s large and expanding private higher education sector. Among the topics analyzed are the legal environment for private higher education, the trend toward incorporating universities as businesses, the commercialization of higher education, and private technical education. One section discusses international trends in private higher education.
Rüegg, Walter, ed. A History of the University in Europe: Universities in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries (1800–1945), vol. 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 746 pp. $150 (hb). ISBN 0-521-36107-9. Address: Cambridge University Press, Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK.
The third volume in a comprehensive analysis of the history of European universities, this book focuses on the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries. Among the areas of concentration are themes and patterns of university development, including the revolutions in such European countries as Germany, Russia, and France in the 19th century. A section deals with the structure of academic development, examining the management of academic institutions, the role of the professoriate, and the diffusion of European models outside of Europe. Students, ranging from student movements to admissions, are considered. A final long section deals with the disciplines—this is especially relevant because the modern academic disciplines emerged during this period. This volume is perhaps the most complete consideration of European higher education during the period that saw the emergence of the modern university.
Schwartz, Stefanie, and Don F. Westerheijden, eds. Accreditation and Evaluation in the European Higher Education Area. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer, 2004. 494 pp. (hb). ISBN 1-4020-2796-6. Address: Kluwer Academic Publishers, POB 17, 3300 AA Dordecht, Netherlands.
Accreditation and evaluation of academic institutions are new phenomena in Europe. These ideas are linked with quality assurance and the improvement of teaching and research. This volume provides case studies of how various European countries are grappling with these challenges. Included are studies of emerging accrediting arrangements in Finland, the Czech Republic, Austria, the Netherlands, and elsewhere. Case studies of quality assurance arrangements are also included.
Tight, Malcolm. Researching Higher Education. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press, 2003. 257 pp. (pb). ISBN 0-335 21117-8. Address: Open University Press, Shoppenhangers Rd., Maidenhead, Berks. SL6 2QL, UK.
An overview of the field of research in higher education, this volume is one of the first efforts to examine the sources of information and analysis on higher education as well as the methodologies of research and common topics of analysis. The book excludes North America—a major exclusion since much of the research and publication come from that region—and focuses only on material in English from other parts of the world. The topics analyzed here include research on the student experience, course design, system policy, institutional management, academic work, quality issues, and several others.
Tinkler, Penny, and Carolyn Jackson. The Doctoral Examination Process: A Handbook for Students, Examiners, and Supervisors. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press, 2004. 228 pp. (pb). ISBN 033521305-7. Address: Open University Press, McGraw-Hill House, Shoppenhangers Rd., Maidenhead, Berks SL6 2QL, UK.
Based on the British-style doctorate, this book provides a practical guide to all aspects of the doctoral examinations—including selection of examining committee members, organizing the exam, assessment, and others. Perspectives from examinees are included.
Walker, Melanie, and Jon Nixon, eds. Reclaiming Universities from a Runaway World. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press, 2004. 215 pp. (pb). ISBN 0335212913. Address: Open University Press, McGraw-Hill House, Shoppenhangers Rd., Maidenhead, Berks SL6 2QL, UK.
A critical perspective on higher education worldwide, this volume focuses mainly on the United Kingdom. The contributors oppose the “new managerialism” and other elements of the neoliberal revolution in higher education thinking in recent years, and are critical of globalization. The authors seek to provide alternative ways of thinking about a future for higher education that stresses democratic values, cooperation, and similar themes.
Wolf-Wendel, Lisa, Susan B. Twombly, and Suzanne Rice. The Two-Body Problem: Dual-Career-Couple Hiring Practices in Higher Education. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004. 196 pp $42 (hb). ISBN 0-8018-7451-3. Address: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2712 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218, USA.
Half of American academics have spouses or partners who are also in the academic profession. Policies relating to the recruitment, employment, and promotion of dual-career couples is a subject of considerable importance. This volume explores policies and practices of U.S. colleges and universities—including split and shared positions, non-tenure-track and adjunct positions, and other accommodations. By looking at a range of institutional policies, the authors provide information and analysis concerning the topic.