Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Higher Education and the Future Social Order: Equality of Opportunity, Quality, Competitiveness?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Future of the Post-Massified University at the Crossroads

Part of the book series: Knowledge Studies in Higher Education ((KSHE,volume 1))

  • 982 Accesses

Abstract

The possible contribution of higher education to the equality of opportunity has not been high on the agenda in European policy discourse in recent years. For example, the “social dimension” of higher education was only a minor theme in the Bologna Process. The available data suggest that the conditions in the various European countries would be too diverse to find a starting point for convergent or common policies. Also, issues of sociobiographic background and education have not been prominent at all in efforts at improving information relevant for evidence-based policy. Hardly any predictions regarding future discourses and policies are possible, because the current preoccupation with issues of competition and top quality may persist or give way to notions of a mass knowledge society where a balance between meritocracy and equality of opportunity will be sought.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Allen, J., & van der Velden, R. (Eds.) (2011). The flexible professional in the knowledge society: New challenges for higher education. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amaral, A., Meek, V. L., & Larsen, I. M. (Eds.) (2003). The higher education managerial revolution? Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bills, D. B. (2004). The sociology of education and work. Malden: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bologna Process Working Group on Social Dimension and Mobility (2007). Key issues for the European higher education area—Social dimension and mobility. Stockholm: Regeringskansliet.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowers-Brown, T. (2006). Widening participation in higher education amongst students from disadvantaged socio-economic groups. Tertiary Education and Management, 12(1), 59–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, J., & Naidoo, R. (2008). Higher education and the achievement (and/or prevention) of equity and social justice. Higher Education, 56(3), 287–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, J., & Teichler, U. (Eds.) (2008). The future of higher education and the future of higher education research (special issue). Higher Education, 56(3).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brennan, J., Naidoo, R., & Patel, K. (2009). Quality, equity and the social dimension: The shift from national to European level. In B. M. Kehm, J. Huisman, & B. Stensaker (Eds.), The European higher education area: perspectives on a moving target (pp. 141–162). Rotterdam/Taipei: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burrage, M. (2010). Martin Trow: Twentieth-century higher education. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Camilleri, A. F., & Mühleck, K. (Eds.) (2010). Evolving diversity: An overview on equitable access to HE in Europe. Brussels: Menon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavalli, A. (Ed.) (2007). Quality assessment for higher education in Europe. London: Portland Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Center for Higher Education Policy Studies, International Centre for Higher Education Research Kassel and ECOTEC (2010). The first decade of working on the European higher education area: The Bologna Process independent assessment, (Vol. 1). Enschede: Twente University, CHEPS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, R. (1979). The credential society: An historical sociology of education and stratification. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curaj, A., Scott, P., Vlasceanu, L., & Wilson, L. (Eds.) (2012). European higher education at the crossroads: Between the Bologna process and national reforms. 2 volumes. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahllöf, U., Harris, J., Shattock, M., Staropoli, A., & in’t Veld, R. (1991). Dimensions of evaluation in higher education. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dore, R. P. (1976). The diploma disease. London: Allen and Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunkel, T., & le Mouillour, I., in cooperation with Teichler, U. (2009). ‘Through the looking-glass’: Diversification and differentiation in vocational education and training and higher education. In European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Ed.), Modernising vocational education and training. Fourth report on vocational training research: Background report (Vol. 2, pp. 239–268). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Commission (2010). The EU contribution to the European higher education area. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat and Eurostudent (2009). The Bologna process in higher education in Europe: Key indicators on the social dimension and mobility. Luxembourg: Sogeti.

    Google Scholar 

  • EURYDICE (Ed.) (2010). Focus on higher education in Europe 2010—The impact of the Bologna Process. Brussels: Education, Audiovisual and Cultural Executive Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferlie, E., Musselin, C., & Andresani, G. (2008). The steering of higher education systems: A public management perspective. Higher Education, 56(3), 325–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Froment, E., Kohler, J., Purser, L., & Wilson, L. (Eds.) (2006). EUA Bologna handbook. Berlin: Raabe Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaebel, M., Purser, L., Wächter, B., & Wilson, L. (Eds.) (2008). Internationalisation of European higher education: an EUA/ACA handbook. Berlin: Raabe Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galtung, J. (1971). Social structure, education structure and life long education: The case of Japan. In OECD (Ed.), Reviews of national policies for education: Japan (pp. 131–152). Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Husén, T. (1972). Social background and educational career. Paris: OECD, CERI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Husén, T. (1987). Higher education and social stratification: An international comparative study. Paris: UNESCO, International Institute for Educational Planning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karabel, J., & Halsey, A. H. (Eds.) (1977). Power and ideology in education. New York/Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kehm, B. M., & Stensaker, B. (Eds.) (2009). University rankings, diversity, and the new landscape of higher education. Rotterdam/Taipei: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kehm, B. M., Huisman, J., & Stensaker, B. (Eds.) (2009). The European higher education area: Perspectives on a moving target. Rotterdam/Taipei: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelo, M., Teichler, U., & Wächter, B. (Eds.) (2006). EURODATA: Student mobility in European higher education. Bonn: Lemmens.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miklavic, K. (2010). Definitions and theories. In A. F. Camilleri & K. Mühleck (Eds.), Evolving diversity: An overview of equitable access to HE in Europe (pp. 7–15). Brussels: Menon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, R. (2004). Education and society: Issues and explanations in the sociology of education. Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neave, G. R., & van Vught, F. (Eds.) (1991). Prometheus bound: The changing relationship between government and higher education in Western Europe. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (Ed.) (1975). Education, inequality and life chances. 2 volumes. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2008). Higher education to 2030, volume 1: Demography. Paris: OECD.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • OECD (2009). Education at a glance 2009: OECD indicators. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orr, D. (Ed.) (2008). Social and economic conditions of student life in Europe. Bielefeld: W. Bertelsmann Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Preston, J., & Green, A. (2008). The role of vocational education and training in enhancing social inclusion and cohesion. In European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) (Ed.), Modernising vocational education and training. Volume 1 (pp. 121–193). Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichert, S. (2009). Institutional diversity in European higher education: Tensions and challenges for policy makers and institutional leaders. Brussels: European University Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sadlak, J., Hüfner, K., Pricopie, R., & Grünberg, L. (Eds.) (2009). UNESCO forum on higher education in the Europe region: Access, values, quality and competitiveness (Topical contributions and outcomes). Bucharest: Comunicare.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schomburg, H., & Teichler, U. (2006). Higher education and graduate employment in Europe. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schomburg, H., & Teichler, U. (Eds.) (2011). Employability and mobility of bachelor graduates in Europe: Key results of the Bologna Process. Rotterdam/Taipei: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shin, J. C., Toutkoushian, R. K., & Teichler, U. (Eds.) (2011). University rankings: Theoretical basis, methodology and impacts on global higher education. Dordrecht: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solga, H., Powell, J., & Berger, P. A. (Eds.) (2009). Soziale ungleichheit. Frankfurt am Main/New York: Campus Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sursock, A., & Smidt, H. (2010). Trends 2010: A decade of change in European higher education. Brussels: European University Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teekens, H., & de Wit, H. (Eds.) (2007). Challenges and opportunities for the internationalization of higher education in the coming decade (special issue). Journal for Studies in International Education, 11(3–4).

    Google Scholar 

  • Teichler, U. (1977). Kogakureki shakai—The modern education society from the comparative point of view. Asian Profile, 5(5), 487–506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teichler, U. (2007a). Higher education systems. Rotterdam/Taipei: Sense.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teichler, U. (2007b). Die Internationalisierung der Hochschulen: Neue Herausforderungen und Strategien. Frankfurt am Main/New York: Campus Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teichler, U. (2009a). Higher education and the world of work. Rotterdam/Taipei: Sense.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teichler, U. (2009b). Student mobility and staff mobility in the European higher education area beyond 2010. In B. M. Kehm, J. Huisman, & B. Stensaker (Eds.), The European higher education area: Perspectives on a moving target (pp. 183–201). Rotterdam/Taipei: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teichler, U. (2010). Europäisierung der Hochschulpolitik. In D. Simon, A. Knie, & S. Hornbostel (Eds.), Handbuch Wissenschaftspolitik (pp. 51–70). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Teichler, U. (2012). Diversity of higher education in Europe and the findings of a comparative study of the academic profession. In A. Curaj, P. Scott, L. Vlasceanu, & L. Wilson (Eds.), European higher education at the crossroads: Between the Bologna Process and national reforms, 2 volumes (pp. 935–959). Dordrecht: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Teichler, U., Hartung, D., & Nuthmann, R. (1980). Higher education and the needs of society. Windsor: NFER Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teichler, U., Ferencz, I., & Wächter, B. (2011). Mapping mobility in European higher education, 2 volumes. Bonn: German Academic Exchange Service. Dok & Mat., No. 69 and 70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Välimaa, J. (2009). The relevance of higher education to the knowledge society and knowledge driven economy: Education, research, innovation. In B. M. Kehm, J. Huisman, & B. Stensaker (Eds.), The European higher education area: Perspectives on a moving target (pp. 23–41). Rotterdam/Taipei: Sense Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Välimaa, J., & Hoffman, D. (2008). Knowledge society discourse and higher education. Higher Education, 56(3), 265–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westerheijden, D. F., Brennan, J., & Maassen, P. A. M. (Eds.) (1994). Changing contexts of quality assessment: Recent trends in West European higher education. Utrecht: Uitgeverij Lemma.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yağci, Y. (2012). The social dimension: A neglected policy item in the Bologna Process. Doctoral dissertation, University of Kassel, Kassel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, M. (1961). The rise of meritocracy. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre for Higher Education Research (INCHER), University of Kassel, Moenchebergstrasse 17, 34109, Kassel, Germany

    Ulrich Teichler

Authors
  1. Ulrich Teichler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ulrich Teichler .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of (South Korea)

    Jung Cheol Shin

  2. International Centre for Higher Education Research (INCHER), Kassel, Germany

    Ulrich Teichler

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Teichler, U. (2014). Higher Education and the Future Social Order: Equality of Opportunity, Quality, Competitiveness?. In: Shin, J., Teichler, U. (eds) The Future of the Post-Massified University at the Crossroads. Knowledge Studies in Higher Education, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01523-1_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation