Wake up call

A critique of the obsession with world-class universities is valuable but unlikely to kill the dream, says Thomas Estermann.

Many institutions and national policymakers are pursuing the dream of creating a world-class university: wealthy, influential and a magnet for the best researchers and students. But for those not already in this category, the dream will remain just that, argues James Mittelman in Implausible Dream.

Mittelman is a scholar of globalisation, development and political economy. He has worked in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, and this international experience provides a strong backbone for his analysis.