The paper explores the dynamics of competition in higher education. National competition and global competition are distinct, but feed into each other. Higher education produces ‘positional goods’ that provide access to social prestige and income-earning.
Based on interviews with key institutional stakeholders in four countries—Australia, Canada, Germany, and Japan— this issue brief examines ranking systems and their impact on the policies and practices at colleges and universities. It also explores the nuances and unique approaches in which rankings could prompt institutions to work in innovative ways.
* Half the boys living in working-class suburbs to the west and north of Melbourne fail mathematics. Why?
* Why are so many young people leaving school early, when there are no jobs for them to go to?
* Are boys disadvantaged at school in comparison with girls?
* What makes good schools work?
* Is the best university one that attracts the top students, or one that offers the best chances for lower-achieving students?
