This book addresses three central questions in contemporary university governance: (1) How and why has academic governance in Anglophone nations changed in recent years and what impact have these changes had on current practices? (2) How do power relations within universities affect decisions about teaching and research and what are the implications for academic voices? (3) How can those involved in university governance and management improve academic governance processes and outcomes and why is it important that they do so? 
The book explores these issues in clear, concise and accessible language that will appeal to higher education researchers and governance practitioners alike. It draws on extensive empirical data from key national systems in the Anglophone world but goes beyond the simply descriptive to analyse and explain. 

Dr Julie Rowlands researches from within a critical sociology of education perspective in the areas of governance, higher education systems, academic quality assurance, education leadership and organisational change. Her work has been published in high-impact international journals including the British Journal of Sociology of Education, Critical Studies in Education and Studies in Higher Education. Julie’s findings on academic boards have been used by a number of universities around Australia and internationally as a basis for board member education programs. Prior to her academic work, Julie served as a senior manager in higher education governance for more than 15 years. She is currently a senior lecturer in education leadership at the School of Education, Deakin University, where she is a member of the strategic research centre Research for Education Impact (REDI).