International comparison is complicated by the use of different terms, classification methods, policy frameworks and system structures, not to mention different languages and terminology. Multi-case studies can assist in the understanding of the influence wielded by cultural, social, economic, historical and political forces upon educational…

The number of staff members serving American higher education institutions has more than doubled in the past twenty years, as occupations in technology, development, government relations, and even athletic administration have grown as never before in the history of the academy. As the number, variety, and importance of these positions have grown,…

At a time when many countries are slowing expansion, Finland continues to provide for growth in funding, particularly research, until 1991. Pressures for reform include the growing number of students seeking higher education, the need for highly educated manpower, and pressure for international comparability of degrees. (MSE)

This study analyzed the 1990 census data to describe the immigrant populations in selected locations, and then conducted institutional case studies to learn about the impact of increasing immigration on higher education institutions and to understand how institutions are responding. The 20 case studies involved community colleges, comprehensive…

It is suggested that while recent studies of European countries' responses to retrenchment in higher education have provided good information, the experiences are not directly comparable. More can be learned by examining the experiences of additional countries, making comparisons with earlier research, and expanding the original studies' scope.…

Twenty case studies of state educational decision making from 1971 to 1991 are analyzed to portray the changing nature of Minnesota's education policy system and to consider whether the often cited "structural linkage" typology remains explanatory. The reformist tradition continues in Minnesota in spite of revenue problems and societal…

The German research university concept was under pressure in the 1980s, but the value system has not changed much. Relative economic prosperity helped the overloaded state system. The federal organization of higher education seems to be a stabilizing influence, as is the political and economic breakdown in eastern Europe. (MSE)

This collection of reports analyzes the roles and responsibilities of the major participants in the financing system for postsecondary education. The six papers present: (1) a conceptual basis for the roles of the various parties in postsecondary education finance and a description of changes in these roles and the difficulties posed for…

As studies of organizational development have focused increasingly in recent years on stages of decline and death, theories of revolutionary adaptation have gained currency. The theory of organizational retrenchment developed in this paper is divided into five chronological stages: (1) preresponse, (2) emerging awareness and buying time, (3) alarm…

The Practice-Theory-Practice Model (PTPM), a method designed to infuse theoretical perspectives into case study materials and to serve as a guide for examining chance processes in institutions of higher education, is described. The PTPM considers the historical and experiential environment that acts upon an institution, its practices and its…

This essay explores the complex relationship between policy talk and institutional change in educational reform. Bursts of reform rhetoric must be distinguished from long-term trends in educational practice. The case study of a comprehensive reform effort helps illustrate why some kinds of reform last and others do not. (SLD)

The provost of Towson University, a Maryland state university, analyzes why his institution employs part-time faculty, discusses problems and solutions, and makes recommendations for longer-term policy development to assure quality education. It is argued that part-time faculty are critical to university operations, providing an economic base that…

Coherence issues drawn from specific country and regional cases can provide the most concrete information on the development implications of OECD-country policies. A first regional case study focused on East Asia, with financial support from the Policy Research Institute of the Japanese Ministry of Finance. The links between the region's…

A study examined trends in enrollment in further education (FE) in Liverpool. Because the primary objective of the study was to identify possible factors that may influence the scale and specific strategies of student recruitment efforts, a case study approach was used to examine the FE participation rates and socioeconomic characteristics of…

A historical overview of cultural attitudes in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States reveals that anthropologists greatly influenced the interaction between the Western "modern" culture and the primitive native culture in those countries. Historical analysis of attitudes toward Aborigines, Maoris, and American Indians provides…