Patterns of Governance in Higher Education Concepts and Trends. New Papers on Higher Education: Studies and Research 9.

This paper presents a review of the literature on governance and management of higher education, offers a set of concepts for discussion on higher education governance, and identifies recent trends that might have a significant influence on the development of higher education systems. It examines the dynamics of higher education systems, focusing on the distribution of authority, the possibilities of market coordination, governmental steering strategies, the role of buffer organizations, management processes, and educational quality. The paper concludes by discussing the issue of governance in higher education in the context of developments and problems in developing nations. It argues that certain major changes, such as deregulation, decentralization, and a decreased government role, are needed to solve the present crisis in higher education in developing nations. (Contains 64 references.) (MDM)