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…

A discussion of common practices in and literature about faculty recruitment and selection concludes that (1) little has been written about the process or issues, (2) great reliance is put on personal judgment, and (3) each institution controls the selection process exclusively. (MSE)

School culture emerges from educational research as the most critical theme for changing secondary schools. Educational problem solving to change school culture must be carried out in individual school buildings rather than at centralized locations. The district offices must aid this site authority with moral support and technical assistance. (VM)

An educational planning exercise that increased centralization in Britain's public sector colleges in 1984-85 is described, and the issues it has raised about the relationship of government and institutions and the nature of educational policymaking are discussed. The responses of eight institutions to the changes are examined. (MSE)

Observers in various European, South American, and Asian countries outline current general trends, issues, and prospects in higher education in those countries. (MSE)

The so-called binary system of postsecondary education in Australia, a subject of recent criticism, is found to be less a matter of concern than the related funding issues and concern for equitable support of all sectors. (MSE)

Late twentieth-century growth in French universities that undermined centralization and the academic staff resulted in anarchic development until recent governments tried to control the system's evolution. For two years the government has tried to convince universities of the need for decentralization for responsiveness to outside stimulus.…

Each unique business of the academic medical center--patient care, education, and research--must be managed with regard for the others, but first needs to be operated for its own primary goal. Ten principles are suggested that recognize the businesses, define potential problems, set tasks, and provide organizational means for resolving conflict.…

The experience of the Kenmore (New York) Public Schools with an inservice program for school board members and district level administrators and staff suggests the issues that must be addressed when convincing district personnel and board members to accept and support the concept of local school initiatives for educational improvement. (PGD)

This document is a chapter in "The Principles and Practice of Educational Management," which aims to provide a systematic and analytical introduction to the study of educational management. The structure of the book reflects the main substantive areas of educational leadership and management, and most of the major themes are covered in the…

What really happens in an inspection of a primary school? Some answers to this question, with a focus on the technical and emotional results of such evaluations, are provided in this text. It is based on a research project involving over 80 interviews in 12 case studies of inspections carried out in England. The book, which is intended for primary…

This book examines the relationship between higher education and state and federal government and proposes the deregulation of higher education. The book notes that deregulation works in preserving and sometimes increasing quality and in maintaining access and diversity, although it does not automatically reduce costs. Part 1 presents the case for…

Extensive studies over a long period have shown that students have chosen to drop out of school for a variety of reasons. These studies range from a general look at student dropouts to those that focus on specific groups. This paper reports primarily on "At Risk of Dropping Out" data derived from the Texas Education Agency Reports.…

This paper analyzes the nature of site-based decision making in Canadian schools. Its purpose is to refine theory on how site-based decision-making (SBDM) processes develop between the principal and the various stakeholders and to offer recommendations regarding how practitioners might proceed to enhance the collaborative decision-making process.…

Since 1991, charter schools of widely varying types and structure have spread to 1600 schools nationwide. A federal study suggests charter schools, compared with other public schools, are smaller, have a similar racial composition, and serve on average slightly fewer students with disabilities, an equal percentage with limited English proficiency,…