Showing papers by "Philip G. Altbach published in 2008"

The complex roles of universities in the period of globalization

Abstract: Universities worldwide are being called on to fulfil more and more roles, often with fewer resources. As a result, academic missions may become dispersed and the quality of the work may decrease. In this era, the function of universities as institutions devoted essentially to teaching and research may be weakened by the struggle to be entrepreneurial and market-relevant (Ben-David, 1977; Clark, 2004; Geiger, 2004). The academic drift of the 21st century raises concerns about the core functions of universities and how contemporary changes have affected academic missions. This paper mainly discusses research universities, which, as the leading and most influential academic institutions, have been most affected by this expansion of roles (Neave, 2000; Altbach and Balan, 2007). The goal of this paper is to examine the changing missions of universities and the impact on academe worldwide.

America in the world: Higher education and the global marketplace

Abstract: The relationship between soft power and international education is not a new phenomenon. Students have studied abroad since the origin of the modern university in the Middle Ages and have been influenced by what they learned and experienced. Faculty members and researchers have also crossed borders for millennia, and knowledge has always been international in scope. Indeed, medieval universities were international institutions, bringing together students and faculty from many European countries and operating in a single language, Latin (Haskins, 2002). Through its strong emphasis on theology and canon law, the medieval university served as a bastion of power for the Catholic Church. The Jesuit mission of spreading the faith through education was an important aspect of the church's soft power. Historically, the Jesuits recognized education as a powerful force and established schools and universities around the world to spread knowledge and Roman Catholicism (O’Malley, Bailey, Harris, & Kennedy, 1999). Missionaries from various other Christian denominations were also actively involved in higher education overseas (Ashby, 1966; Lutz, 1971).