The importance of reform of studies to ensure greater social and professional relevance of higher education in countries that are members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is considered. The state of research in higher education is also examined. After briefly discussing the current state of higher education in OECD countries and the relationship between higher education and working life, the reform of studies, and the particular problems of the humanities and social sciences, are examined. In most OECD countries, higher education is currently on the defensive because of such factors as economic recession, demographic changes, and graduate unemployment. It is suggested that higher education can respond to a greater emphasis on working life in five main ways: the alternative choices of work and study, either before, during, or after studies, can be encouraged; vocational representatives can be involved in the planning or accreditation of courses: student enrollment vocational courses can be increased, and the numbers in nonvocational courses can be decreased; a compromise, such as requiring students in academic courses to spend 20 percent of their time in vocational studies can be implemented; and academic and vocational needs can be subsumed within a framework of general undergraduate education, educational policy (and demographic factors) and by science and technology policy. The way in which external funds for research projects are distributed and the consequences of decline are considered. (SW)