Towards More Adaptive Universities: Trends of Institutional Reform in Europe

European universities are increasingly facing competitive environments, declining resources, and changing societal needs. Factors influencing this development are globalization, the changing role of the state, economic restructuring, information technology, and student and staff mobility. Adaptation to these new environmental conditions involves changes in major structures and processes of academic organization. This article describes these environmental demands and presents institutional responses illustrated through empirical results. The importance of governance, management, and leadership regarding adaptation are of special concern in this analysis. Implications for higher education research and practice include consequences for university management as well as for new areas for empirical work.