In recent years higher education has undergone a period of unprecedented growth. Demographic change coupled with technological advances has resulted in greater demand and access. Countries are increasingly aware of the need to ensure that they have a trained work force that is equipped with a range of competencies and skill sets suitable for an era of globalisation and increased competition. Economic pressures have added to the dynamic and raise important questions with regard to policy, staffing, resources and to the prevailing ethos in higher education. For many these are times of enormous uncertainty, for others the scope for partnership and stakeholder engagement affords exciting opportunities. People directly involved in the world of education recognize that expectations are changing and as a result there needs to be a willingness to embrace and adapt to change. Whilst employment patterns are under enormous strain, society at large continues to look to the higher education field to provide meaningful and long lasting solutions to diverse societal challenges. Just as pedagogy in the primary and secondary sector has undergone significant development andragogy in the high education sector demands that students be prepared for employment, leisure and the vicissitudes of life.

The advent of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and other technological innovations are bringing many more people into the orbit of higher education. Employers and the media are increasingly vocal and often critical about what role education should be playing. Rising costs and funding pressures are disturbing the groves of academe as never before. Employment patterns are certainly changing and those charged with the responsibility of managing resources are having to juggle myriad and often conflicting demands.