Universities have never been static. Even so, it is fair to say they have experienced a most radical transformation in the past twenty years. During this period, the role and responsibility of the state generally have been broadly limited while allowing market forces--private ownership and control--more influence.

But even where the state is still the main provider or funder, it relies increasingly on market mechanisms, for example contractual relations between state and institutions, competition among providers for resources, and external assessment of outputs which means the results or...

Universities have never been static. Even so, it is fair to say they have experienced a most radical transformation in the past twenty years. During this period, the role and responsibility of the state generally have been broadly limited while allowing market forces--private ownership and control--more influence.

But even where the state is still the main provider or funder, it relies increasingly on market mechanisms, for example contractual relations between state and institutions, competition among providers for resources, and external assessment of outputs which means the results or...