Originally published in 1982, this is a collection of studies by representatives of countries in western Europe, writing about important legislation affecting universities and showing trends of government control over higher education. In the 1960s European universities faced two major challenges: a rapid increase in enrolment, with consequent expansion of staff and a growing need for money; and a demand for changes in their governing structures by student activists and some staff and government administrators. Taking the widespread student agitation in 1968 as the starting-point, the authors summarise the general history of higher education; events of the late 1960s and 1970s and their political and public consequences for educators; and the then current positions of stage and private universities in their countries. In addition, one chapter contrasts the situations in Great Britain and the United States. Hans Daalder provides a retrospective overview of these problems and their resolutions.
