Forms of capitalism and creating world-class universities

Abstract

This chapter looks to discuss what different capitalisms (i.e., neoliberal capitalism as in the USA, state-regulated capitalism as in some European countries, state-led capitalism as in China) mean for higher education markets and the race to achieve world-class university status. After a general introduction to different forms of capitalism and their implications for higher education, we focus specifically on German higher education, which is transitioning from a regulated social welfare economy to a more neoliberal one, and look at the consequences of this for Germany’s efforts to build markets by capturing international student mobility. The chapter is based on case studies of three universities and examines the learning required by faculty and staff as well as the concomitant expansion of institutional work to move from the traditional posture of the Humboldtian university to more market facing postures.