This week we have two articles that cover higher education governance. The first article “An analytical framework for the cross-country comparison of higher education governance”, focuses on three models used In Europe: academic self-governance, the state-centeredness and the market-oriented model. The article shows belief that it is because of an increase in competition paired with the economic crisis many countries are facing, that has had an adverse effect on higher education. Higher education all over the world, not just in America, has been put under an ever more careful watchful eye where minor mistakes have been blown up and scrutinized. To combat this, many countries have conducted self-assessments to try and figure out how to rectify and prevent future occurrences. These efforts are noted in the article but newer solutions that place more attention on system autonomy institutional balance of power, and financial governance are proposed. This article reinforces the thought that many have had in the past; there is a shift that is causing higher education to have more of a business structure. Just this past week in a case study for my fundraising class, we had to pitch why a made up higher education institute should focus on receiving corporate funding. Corporations have long funneled money into higher education as a way to push themselves beyond their competitors. This is a reality that isn’t going to change, but if it can positively benefit students in the long run it’s a necessary evil I suppose.

The second article, Approaches to Internationalization and Their Implications for Strategic Management and Institutional Practice, covers internationalization and how the government affects them. On a political front, student mobility; having an intake of foreign students and the export of our own, fosters growth and shows a welcoming side and continues to push global awareness. Students who do study aboard don’t think about how them traveling to this foreign country affects or reflects on their home countries, for many the thought never crossed their minds, this course has opened my eyes to see that this is a large reality, like a majority of things in life, everything or everyone keeps what benefits them in mind. Study aboard and internationalization (when done correctly) benefits the country, the higher education institution, the student, and the government.

Both articles focus on higher education and how it is affected by the government. It was welcoming (albeit a bit disturbing on my end) to see that European institutions are having similar issues. For me who constantly writes that America is a bit too full of itself when it comes to being the perceived number 1 place in the world for education. These readings give me two possible outcomes from this, either America will notice that other places have the same issues and be more open to changing and developing, or feeling as though we are still the best if everyone has our issues because they are following our lead.