Governance and Funding of Universities in the European Higher Education Area: Times of Rupture

This chapter discusses why governance and funding are currently serious matters of concern for public policy in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). It argues that discussions about governance are particularly intense in times of major change in the world around higher education, and that we are once again traversing such a period in Europe. External ruptures in society at-large and changing trends in higher education, which influence the policy discussions and reform initiatives on governance are summarized. The chapter puts forward a synopsis of some of the most important developments in governance and funding since the start of the Bologna Process and launch of the EHEA, and points to important current challenges. Finally, it introduces the papers of the governance and funding section of this volume.