German Higher Education in the European Context

Abstract

R for the provision of higher education has always varied from country to country. In continental European countries it has traditionally been viewed as the duty of the state. In several of these countries, governments have even funded institutions not under direct government control. In the United Kingdom, by comparison, institutions—though state-approved by royal charter—have been considered to be independent entities that fund themselves through endowments, state support, and tuition fees. In the United States, private and public institutions have had much in common regarding funding, management, and supervision. Other governments have provided the nucleus of higher education, while private institutions have supplemented the core. In the wake of higher education expansion, growing fiscal problems, and the increasing popularity of neoliberal economic doctrines, private funding and the privatization of higher education institutions have gained ground in many countries traditionally dominated by public higher education. The debate over private and public funding, however, often involves a confusing mix of three issues: student costs, the role of public subsidies, and the level of government supervision.