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Very Short Introductions #545
Universities and Colleges: A Very Short Introduction
What is a university? How have universities and colleges evolved over the centuries? What will be the impact of digital- and distance-learning; of commercial for-profit new entrants to the higher education market; of government austerity; and of globalization on universities and colleges?
Exploring the origins and the concept of the university, this Very Short Introduction discusses one of the world's oldest, most resilient, and most adaptable institutions. Considering examples of universities and colleges across the world, David Palfreyman and Paul Temple discuss the issues facing the future of universities, and the questions surrounding the position and role of universities and colleges within society today.
ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Exploring the origins and the concept of the university, this Very Short Introduction discusses one of the world's oldest, most resilient, and most adaptable institutions. Considering examples of universities and colleges across the world, David Palfreyman and Paul Temple discuss the issues facing the future of universities, and the questions surrounding the position and role of universities and colleges within society today.
ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
150 pages, Paperback
First published December 28, 2017
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199 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 2, 2021
The book is a fascinating look at the inception, evolution, and present day operations of institutions focussing on tertiary education. I would have enjoyed a reduction in the number of boxed excerpts taken from other texts and a more strict focus on the essence of the discussion and as such, I gave the book four stars; good but not exceptional.
I would recommend the book to anyone looking to further understand the difference between further and higher education as well as those looking to understand why universities have operated for nearly a thousand years.
Passages I found significant:
“I judge no land in England better bestowed than that which is given to our universities, for by their maintenance our realm shall be well governed when we be dead and rotten.” King Henry VIII (p. 9)
“A habit of mind is formed which lasts through life, of which the attributes are, freedom, equitableness, calmness, moderation, and wisdom… all as the special fruit of the education found at a university.” (p. 29)
“What is the balance of managerialism v. collegiality, of corporatism v. shared values?” (p.71)
I would recommend the book to anyone looking to further understand the difference between further and higher education as well as those looking to understand why universities have operated for nearly a thousand years.
Passages I found significant:
“I judge no land in England better bestowed than that which is given to our universities, for by their maintenance our realm shall be well governed when we be dead and rotten.” King Henry VIII (p. 9)
“A habit of mind is formed which lasts through life, of which the attributes are, freedom, equitableness, calmness, moderation, and wisdom… all as the special fruit of the education found at a university.” (p. 29)
“What is the balance of managerialism v. collegiality, of corporatism v. shared values?” (p.71)
January 7, 2019
The very short introduction is a difficult genre. Authors are challenges to boil a complex topic down to its essentials, given enough particular facts while also pointing out avenues the reader can follow to investigate certain topics in more depth.
Two immediate shortcomings to this volume is its insistence on reminding the audience of how hard it is to summarize a complex topic (we know; that's the point) and the tendency to mention ideas and names that are salient to a discussion without giving much in terms of context for how those topics interact with the discussion. For example, the authors tend to mention alternative ways of structuring universities in passing, as if saying their names were sufficient to introducing them, but then wave them off as being too hard to explain for people that mostly worked in the US and UK anyway.
There's some good material on the history of the university as an institution. But more often than not the text will simply posit differences of opinion on the state of colleges and say that both camps make good points. Or the authors will ask questions for paragraphs at a time without making much effort to delve deeper into which answers are more likely than others.
The best short introductions clarify exactly what they want to talk about and don't spend much time explaining why they don't have room to talk about everything outside their scope. The authors here were clearly inhibited by the format and it feels like they were only able to get started by the time the page limit hit.
Two immediate shortcomings to this volume is its insistence on reminding the audience of how hard it is to summarize a complex topic (we know; that's the point) and the tendency to mention ideas and names that are salient to a discussion without giving much in terms of context for how those topics interact with the discussion. For example, the authors tend to mention alternative ways of structuring universities in passing, as if saying their names were sufficient to introducing them, but then wave them off as being too hard to explain for people that mostly worked in the US and UK anyway.
There's some good material on the history of the university as an institution. But more often than not the text will simply posit differences of opinion on the state of colleges and say that both camps make good points. Or the authors will ask questions for paragraphs at a time without making much effort to delve deeper into which answers are more likely than others.
The best short introductions clarify exactly what they want to talk about and don't spend much time explaining why they don't have room to talk about everything outside their scope. The authors here were clearly inhibited by the format and it feels like they were only able to get started by the time the page limit hit.
March 8, 2021
Some interesting aspects but all too often this felt a little like a Very Short Introduction to Oxford University rather than universities as a whole. And the discussion of students themselves seemed unfortunately to be faintly contemptuous: students today being more concerned about alcohol and the unfairness of fees rather than making the world a better place as apparently was their only motivation back the halcyon days of the 1960s. Disappointing.
January 6, 2018
A decent introduction to the subject - so much so that I might make certain sections mandatory to students who are applying to American colleges and universities - but the writing itself was surprisingly bad. Still, worth a read for its content and brevity.
June 21, 2018
A really thought-provoking, concise look at the history and future of universities! So readable and provides great background knowledge for (I hope) the rest of my career in education theory and provision!
September 23, 2018
Not sure why I read it; not bad, just not a subject interest of mine.
July 19, 2020
Bland and rather superficial
April 26, 2023
Good introduction to think of the university system and its development.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews