Change, Leverage, Suasion and Intent: An Historical Excursion Across Three Decades of Change in Higher Education in Western Europe

Abstract

In love and war, so the Ancient Romans held, 'Fortes fortuna adiuvat' - Fortune favours the brave. Hopefully, this millennial adage is just as applicable to the study of higher education in general and, more particularly, to those hardy souls who elect to study change in higher education and its management. To continue for a moment in the world of the Classics - mythology this time - there is no topic more protean than change nor so central to our understanding the present condition of higher education and, for that matter, how it got to be in its present pass. For those untouched by the curse of a semi-classical upbringing, let me introduce an obscure metaphor, which is not inappropriate to studying change.