Introduction

Abstract

In the last few years several books and special journal issues have been published that all provide an international comparative perspective on the changing academic profession and academic work. These publications stem from a number of important research initiatives, such as the Harvard project on academic appointments in countries all over the world (Altbach 2003; Altbach and Chait 2001) and a study sponsored by the European Union on the employment and working conditions of academic staff in Europe (Enders 2000). These studies point to significant developments in working conditions, terms of appointment and remuneration in different European countries, the United States, as well as in developing countries. Earlier initiatives were the Carnegie Foundation’s international survey on the professoriate in fourteen countries (Altbach 1996), Clark’s study on the academic profession based on selected European countries and the USA (Clark 1987), and Farnham’s study on managing academic staff in selected countries (Farnham 1999).