Europe's knowledge economies need high-level skills, the capacity to innovate and to support democratic societies. In this perspective, the main objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the relevance of higher education and how this is promoted in various countries in Europe and beyond. The evidence, conclusions and…

Purpose: To examine the role of power in interactive policymaking settings. Design/Methodology/Approach: A literature study is combined with four case studies relating to citizen participation in natural resource management and rural development in the Netherlands. Findings: Many of the identified problems and dilemmas of interactive policymaking…

This paper looks at the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) as an important part of the international trade law system and explores if and how it affects the steering capacity of a nation state regarding higher education. It offers a new conceptual framework to look on the impact of GATS on higher education within its increasingly…

The results of a comparative study on the influences of state regulation on the behavior of higher education institutions in the design and implementation of innovations in their curricula are presented. Three case studies in the Federal Republic of Germany, France and the Netherlands are described. (Author/MLW)

The 1989 Dutch Higher Education and Scientific Research Act contains a new set of rules for universities and technical institutes and also a new policy approach, characterized by a system rather than institutional orientation. Several problems are seen in this as yet underdeveloped strategy. (MSE)

Government's role differs according to whether it restricts itself to creating a structural framework within which institutional performance evaluation takes place or takes the evaluative task on itself. Process-directed and output-directed evaluation are compared, with examples given from the Netherlands. (Author/MSE)

This paper offers a broad look at accreditation and quality assurance in higher education and how these issues are addressed around the world. Section 1 is an overview of accreditation and addresses the aims and objectives of accreditation, standards, accreditation bodies, stages of the accreditation process, the quality of that process, the role…

This theme issue is devoted to discussions of early childhood policy issues. "Creating a Shared Vision: How Policy Affects Early Childhood Care and Development" (Judith L. Evans) defines policy, discusses the motivation for changing or creating national policy and the process for changing such policies, and provides a sample design for…

In the wake of the Supreme Court's landmark ruling upholding school choice, policymakers across the country are grappling with the challenge of funding and regulating private schools. Towns, cities, and states are experimenting with a variety of policies, including vouchers, tax credits, and charter schools. Meanwhile, public officials and…

Twenty adult education programs being conducted in the Netherlands are described in the case studies in this packet. The courses range from adult basic education to continuing education courses in languages, from basic nursing courses to advanced neurology. The following programs are profiled: (1) open school (Balde); (2) study house for adults…