Higher education worldwide faces similar challenges—how to cope with globalization, the provision of access to underserved populations, and others. Higher Education in the New Century has identified six key challenges and has focused careful analysis on them. The topics are:
* The academic profession
* Access and equity
* Higher education and social cohesion
* Private higher education
* International student circulation
* The research university
Each of these themes is analyzed by a group of international scholars in order to provide a multidisciplinary and cross-national perspective. This book stems from the Fulbright New Century Scholars Program—an international research project involving more than 20 countries. Because of its broad perspective, this book brings a fresh analysis to central issues. For example, the analysis of how universities can contribute to social cohesion in divided societies is unique. International student flows are discussed from a south-south perspective.