The idea of a global market for universities

Abstract

The central claim of this chapter is that the current development of the idea of a global market for universities is underpinned by the notion of competition. The rhetoric of competition permeates both local and global policy debates, and a number of mechanisms have been put in place to make competition and competitive dynamics “real.” Three features of competition are evident from these developments. First, as universities are the primary unit involved in competition, the demand is that the university should be reorganized, managed and changed to become competitive. They must learn to conform to the rules of competition. Second, the competition is globally organized and rationalized through mechanisms such as rankings. Third, the currency of competition is research excellence, which lead towards status and recognition in the global university market. This is distinct from, while related to, a competition for resources.