This book documents experimentation with various policy and governance approaches that produce structural differences in the composition and organisation of Asia's higher education systems. In view of the wide variation in the public and private provision of higher education, it showcases how issues of access, equity and modes of participation are addressed, how institutional and programme quality are managed and how academic labour is treated and developed. The book both maps these differences and analyses the country-level dynamics, policy approaches and the problems faced by a variety of states in Asia in the race to develop competitive higher education systems. Focusing on the intersection of governance and higher education policy, it addresses the challenges facing higher education in Asia and the national responses of governments in terms of the organisation of the sector.

1 The political economy of higher education governance in Asia: Challenges, trends and trajectories.- 2 Changing patterns in the governance of higher education in Asia.- 3 ASEAN and emerging multi-level governance of higher education in Asia.- 4 Big ambitions, mediocre results: Politics, power and the quest for world class universities in Indonesia.- 5 Asserting global leadership in higher education: Governance with strong government in China.- 6 Governing private higher education in Malaysia: Change and evolution.- 7 Higher education in Singapore: The policy state and governance.- 8 Governance, accountability and autonomy in higher education in Hong Kong.- 9 Research, development and innovation: Governance transformation in Taiwanese higher education.- 10 Higher education in Vietnam: Statism versus institutional autonomy.- 11 The changing governance of Thai higher education.- 12 Cambodian higher education governance: The politics of global summitry and clientelism.