British polytechnics, or technical institutes, are considered from a range of perspectives. Papers include: higher education in the 1970's (C.F. Carter); polytechnic administration (including its relation to government agencies, personnel, academic structure, and financial and plant administration) (C.S. Hall); polytechnic costing: some problems (C.J. Harris); a critical appraisal of systems of organization (V. Pereira Mendoza); the relationship of research and consultancy to courses and resources (A. Walker); and the Council for National Academic Awards and the polytechnics (A.M. Ridler). (MSE)