This book addresses three central questions in contemporary university governance: (1) How and why has academic governance in Anglophone nations changed in recent years and what impact have these changes had on current practices?

Part I: Academic governance in context.- 1 The changing nature of the university sector.- 2 University governance within an international context.- 3 What is academic governance?.- 4 Comparing academic governance across Anglophone nations.- 5 The theoretical and policy context.- 6 University governance models.- Part II: Case studies of academic governance in practice.- 7 Changes in the case study academic boards over time.- 8 Academic board strengths and weaknesses.- 9 Academic governance within university power and authority relationships.- 10 The academic board and academic quality assurance.- Part III: Moving forward.- 11 Key issues and challenges facing academic governance.- 12 Strengthening academic governance into the future.

This book addresses three central questions in contemporary university governance: (1) How and why has academic governance in Anglophone nations changed in recent years and what impact have these changes had on current practices? (2) How do power relations within universities affect decisions about teaching and research and what are the implications for academic voices? (3) How can those involved in university governance and management improve academic governance processes and outcomes and why is it important that they do so? 
The book explores these issues in clear, concise and accessible language that will appeal to higher education researchers and governance practitioners alike. It draws on extensive empirical data from key national systems in the Anglophone world but goes beyond the simply descriptive to analyse and explain. 
“The book chronicles the changes in university governance in Anglophone systems in athorough and systematic way. It brings together in one volume an analysis of the trends and issues facing the governance of the world’s major higher education systems. It is the only recent work that I know of which does this. The shift from “academic governance” to “executive governance” has been one of the most important changes facing higher education nearly everywhere. Rowlands’ documentation and analysis of these changes is deep and rich.”Professor V. Lynn Meek, University of Melbourne
“This is a much needed and carefully crafted comparative analysis of the UK, USA and Australia as to the changing role of academic boards or senates in university governance. Rowlands’ skillful use of theory in clear, accessible language goes to the heart of a troubling shift in power away from academics to the executive in the modern university in more regulated/deregulated and marketised contexts.”Professor Jill Blackmore, Deakin University<
“In an era that has seen the decline of the professor and the rise of executive senior management, Julie Rowlands builds round a focus on the senate/academic board to examine how universities are run. She shines a light on power, where it resides, how it is exercised and what checks and balances exist. This illuminating book will be essential to courses on higher education management and key reading for those involved in governance, not least representatives of staff subject to New Public Management.”Professor Ian McNay, University of Greenwich

“The book chronicles the changes in university governance in Anglophone systems in a thorough and systematic way. It brings together in one volume an analysis of the trends and issues facing the governance of the world’s major higher education systems. It is the only recent work that I know of which does this. The shift from “academic governance” to “executive governance” has been one of the most important changes facing higher education nearly everywhere. Rowlands’ documentation and analysis of these changes is deep and rich.” (Professor V. Lynn Meek, University of Melbourne)

“This is a much needed and carefully crafted comparative analysis of the UK, USA and Australia as to the changing role of academic boards or senates in university governance. Rowlands’ skillful use of theory in clear, accessible language goes to the heart of a troubling shift in power away from academics to the executive in the modern university in more regulated/deregulated and marketised contexts. Rowlands illustrates how academic boards or senates now function less as sites of debate and more in a performative role of quality assurance, thus symbolizing the weakening role of academics relative to executive leadership and management in decision-making about the core work of teaching and research, although with significant national differences.  The focus on the internal mechanisms of university governance highlights issues regarding academic freedom, institutional and professional autonomy, tenure, accountability, workload and student participation and how academic norms are moving towards commercial foci.” (Professor Jill Blackmore, Deakin University)

“In an era that has seen the decline of the professor and the rise of executive senior management, Julie Rowlands builds round a focus on the senate/academic board to examine how universities are run. She shines a light on power, where it resides, how it is exercised and what checks and balances exist. This illuminatingbook will be essential to courses on higher education management and key reading for those involved in governance, not least representatives of staff subject to New Public Management.” (Professor Ian McNay, University of Greenwich)

"The book chronicles the changes in university governance in Anglophone systems in a thorough and systematic way. It brings together in one volume an analysis of the trends and issues facing the governance of the world's major higher education systems. It is the only recent work that I know of which does this. The shift from "academic governance" to "executive governance" has been one of the most important changes facing higher education nearly everywhere. Rowlands' documentation and analysis of these changes is deep and rich." (Professor V. Lynn Meek, University of Melbourne) "This is a much needed and carefully crafted comparative analysis of the UK, USA and Australia as to the changing role of academic boards or senates in university governance. Rowlands' skillful use of theory in clear, accessible language goes to the heart of a troubling shift in power away from academics to the executive in the modern university in more regulated/deregulated and marketised contexts. Rowlands illustrates how academic boards or senates now function less as sites of debate and more in a performative role of quality assurance, thus symbolizing the weakening role of academics relative to executive leadership and management in decision-making about the core work of teaching and research, although with significant national differences. The focus on the internal mechanisms of university governance highlights issues regarding academic freedom, institutional and professional autonomy, tenure, accountability, workload and student participation and how academic norms are moving towards commercial foci." (Professor Jill Blackmore, Deakin University) "In an era that has seen the decline of the professor and the rise of executive senior management, Julie Rowlands builds round a focus on the senate/academic board to examine how universities are run. She shines a light on power, where it resides, how it is exercised and what checks and balances exist. This illuminating book will be essential to courses on higher education management and key reading for those involved in governance, not least representatives of staff subject to New Public Management." (Professor Ian McNay, University of Greenwich)

Skilfully uses theory to explain and analyse university governance, going beyond a simply descriptive account Presents extensive empirical data from key national systems in the Anglophone world that facilitates a deeper understanding of changes in university governance The focus on academic voice within changing university power relations addresses key issues of concern within contemporary universities Concludes with practical suggestions for how academic governance can be strengthened Written in clear, concise and accessible language Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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