The Decline of the Guru: The Academic Profession in Developing and Middle-Income Countries

Ever wondered what academia is like in developing countries? Altbach solicited contributions describing its status in places like China, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. In China, there is a focus on the elite universities like Peking and Tshinghua. Likewise, the Mexican account tends to focus on the main campus in the capital. The comparisons can be fascinating. There is a common concern about pressures of teaching. With inadequate funding given the class sizes. Attaining tenure is also an important issue. Some places, like China, are trying to diminish the use of tenure, to go towards a more performance based system.