Globalisation and Convergence: a Comparative Study of University Policy and Practice in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, 1946-1996

Globalisation has been a subject of intense debate in academic circles for decades. Despite the numerous publications on globalisation, it is found that few existing studies have incorporated proper conceptualisation of the phenomenon and methodology in their investigation of the subject. Furthermore, many studies have overlooked the global-national-local interaction and many made their claims without the support of empirical evidence. This book intends to fill some of these gaps by means of a cross-national historical study. By comparing and juxtaposing the changes in university objectives, provision, funding and regulation of four Asian national systems and four elite universities between 1946 and 1996, this book seeks to establish whether globalisation has reduced national variations and led to convergence in university policies and practices; and whether convergence is an inevitable outcome of globalisation. This book provides the much-needed empirical evidence to the highly controversial globalisation debate, and helps further understand the globalisation processes and its impacts on the modern world.