On the Threshold: Private Universities in Jordan

This issue features several articles on the expanding private sector in higher education worldwide. The role of private universities and colleges, and the “privatization” of public institutions of higher education deserves close attention. As public expenditure for higher education declines in many countries, private initiative has helped to provide access. The private sector is diverse and in many places unregulated. Private institutions have a long history and are often among the most prestigious universities in the country. This is true of several of the Jesuit universities in Latin America, institutions like Harvard and Stanford in the United States, the Ateneo de Manila in the Philippines, and others. New private universities, on the other hand, face serious problems of funding and facilities. This is an opportune time to examine the private sector in higher education. Editors Natioanal and International Issues in Private Higher Education