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Airs the disappointment of Eastern Europeans over the slow progress of reforms in the region's higher education. Placement of reform-minded deans and rectors in institutions in 1989; Doubling of enrollees in postsecondary education institutions; Continued reliance on learning based on memorizing of lectures; Creation of awards program for outstanding higher education reforms.

The article reports on the liberal reforms currently in progress at the universities in Eastern Europe. Their moves to explore radical new approaches to replace the centralized control by governments reflect the political changes in their societies. They want to be more flexible in setting curricula and selecting teachers and teaching methods. The most dramatic changes occur in Poland and Hungary.

Reports that the 1999 Hannah Arendt Prize for higher-education reform in Eastern Europe is being shared by the Institute for Contemporary History, in Prague, and the Center for the Study of the Classical Tradition, in Warsaw. Background of the prize; Details about the winning institutions; Special award given to George Soros.