Universities find themselves in dynamic change. They are confronted with growing expectations from their stakeholders, increasing international competition, and new technological challenges.  Featuring insights and in-depth case studies from leading researchers and university decision makers from around the world, this book argues that institutions of higher education, in order to be successful, have to actively reflect on circumstances, visions, and strategies to master the future.   Drawing from their experiences across a diverse array of institutions in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, the authors explore the pressures on today's universities and the opportunities for excelling in the contest for resources.  They discuss operational issues, such as strategic management, IT governance, leadership development, and entrepreneurial culture, and broader concerns, such as the roles and responsibilities of universities in promoting technology transfer and economic and social development.  The result is a resource that not only reveals and analyzes universities from an organizational perspective, but presents best practice models and concrete inspiration for management and policymaking.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Altmann is Rector of MCI Management Center Innsbruck. He studied Business Administration and Economics at the Universitíes of Linz and Innsbruck. There he received his Master's Degree in 1989. After receiving his post-graduate Diploma in International Affairs at the Johns Hopkins University in Bologna (School of Advanced International Studies) in 1992, he concluded his Doctoral Studies at the University of Innsbruck in 1993. Andreas Altmann worked as a post-doc researcher first at the Department of Finance and later on at the Department of Strategic Management at the University of Innsbruck. At both institutions he was engaged as a member of the task force MCI Management Center Innsbruck. He became its Founding Director in 1995 and has lead MCI Management Center Innsbruck to an internationally acknowledged "Entrepreneurial School", a highly ranked academic institution with meanwhile 3,000 students, 800 faculty members, 200 partner universities as well as numerous successful alumni around the world. Andreas Altmann is successfully engaged in teaching, research and management in numerous academic institutions.