The Impact of Neoliberal Policies on Higher Education

The influence of neoliberalism on higher education is profound, redefining its landscape through increased emphasis on market-driven principles. This shift has led to heightened competition among universities, as exemplified by the proliferation and impact of global university rankings. Such rankings encourage institutions to prioritize prestige over educational quality, often at the expense of academic integrity and equity. Neoliberal policies have also affected faculty roles, imposing financial pressures and altering traditional mentoring models. The resultant environment fosters a culture that values self-enhancement, sometimes leading to unethical behaviors such as academic dishonesty. This essay delves into these dynamics, drawing on various studies and scholarly insights to provide a comprehensive analysis of how neoliberalism has reshaped higher education.

Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW
LITERATURE REVIEW
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction:
The concept of the neoliberalism refers to the globalization of society in terms of
economical growth. The neoliberalim has impacted all aspects of the society including the higher
education. The higher education has gained much importance from the historical age and after
execution of the concept of neoliberalism in the society, the perspectives of the higher education
have changed. There has been vast and in depth study by the scholars of the higher education and
the impact of the neoliberalism on the same. The purpose of this literature review is to present
the concept and the opinions of the different scholars regarding the impact of neoliberalism on
higher education. On the other hand, the literature review of this discourse presents level of the
competition within the university in terms of the influence of the neoliberalism on the higher
education. In regard to this, it must be noted that the effect of the neoliberalism is different in the
different country. However, the trends in the universities of all the country are similar on the
providence of the education to the students in order to get all the privileges from the
implementation of the neoliberalism. The quality and the standard of the education have also
been changed with the conceptualization of the neoliberalism in the context of the higher
education.
Historical and Contemporary Perspective:
As opined by Joens and Hoyle, (2013), neoliberal corporatization of the of the higher
education regard to the latest manifestation of the rankings of the university “in which the market
forces increasingly govern research and teaching and thus leads to the marketization of the
education and the co-modification of the knowledge, and simple but relentless pressure to
produce”. From the historical perspective the competition in the context of the higher education

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does not refer to the competition among the universities, rather it refers to the competition among
the students for the achievement of the graduate level studies. On the other hand, Seller, (2013)
stated that the impact of the neo-liberalism has increased the competition among the universities
regardless of their countries. The contemporary perspectives of the competition refer to the close
and strong competition among the universities in terms of the deliverance of the education to the
students (Hazelkorn, 2015). In regard to the impact of the neo-liberalism, the socio economic
background of the universities as well as the students, the level of competition is determined. For
serving the purpose of the competition and to gain the competitive advantages in the global
market which is driven by the neoliberalism, the universities are approaching the cross border
relationship (Mitchell & Nielsen, 2012). This transformation is the result of the globalization in
terms of the neoliberalism. Along with this, Michell and Nielson, (2012) also stated that the
neoliberalism is enabling the universities to stand as the individual entity I the global context of
the higher education. It must be understood from the historical perspective that the prevalence of
the competition in the higher education was less compared to the contemporary perspective.
As opined by Bagley and Portnoi, (2016) the emergence of the several new universities in
the competitive global market of the higher education can be compared to the trends in the higher
education sectors and the reason behind the same is the conceptualization of the neoliberalism.
The scholars in the article have emphasized upon the contemporary trends of the higher
education in terms of the global competition. It is considered that the knowledge producers are
the center in the market of the competition, as “knowledge and people with knowledge are the
key factors of development, the main drivers of growth, and the major determinants of
competitiveness in the global economy” (Bagley & Portnoi, 2016). In this regard, it must be
remembered that the neoliberalism is one of the aspects of the globalization. Therefore, the

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neoliberalism along with the globalization has transformed the public universities to the private.
The privatization of the universities has increased the level of competition among the universities
and this is the chief argumentative topic of the neoliberal economic agenda (Mitchell & Nielsen,
2012).
The contemporary perspective of the competition in the market for the higher secondary
education is indicated by the economical growth and development in regards to the neo-
liberalism. However, the competition among the universities for the providence of the higher
education to the mass is based on the needs and the contemporary trends in regard to the higher
education. The more the country is developed, the more competitive is the market of education
is. In addition, the privatization of the universities is also based on the economical dependency of
the universities (Lipman, 2011). It is found that the rate and the level of the competition are more
in the private universities more rather than the public universities (Stimac & Simic, 2012). The
neo liberalism is the key to the competition in the sector of the higher education in terms of the
global context. The neoliberal concept has worked as the evolving factor for the transformation
of the competition level within the setting of the higher education organizations.
As the economic growth is the basis of the neo liberal concept, the universities which are
not privatized are economically helped by the government in order to gain the competitive
advantages from the market. As stated by Gale and Parker, (2013), the role of the Australian
government in the higher education is vital as after the World War II, the education system was
disrupted and desperately needed the help from the government. In regards to this, it needs to be
mentioned that the economical aspect of the nation, as well as the state, is the key important
factor for the advancement of the competition in the context of the higher education. With the
evolving transformation of the universities in terms of the deliverance of the higher education to

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fulfill the needs of the students, the neoliberalism with its economical forces has been able to
increase the completion within the universities as compared to the historical times.
Competition as the Part of the Higher Education Industry:
The higher education systems, institutions as well as policies are properly transformed
with the help of globalization that is deepening, widening as well as speeding up the entire
worldwide interconnectedness. Higher education is mixed up in these kinds of changes wherein
research as well as education are the key elements in the formation of the global environment
that is foundational to a different kind of knowledge along with taking up challenges as well.
There are different core ideas that have been developed in the particular chapter relates to
the impact of globalization as well as internationalism in the higher education. According to
Altbach, (2015), the study helps in understanding that the globalization is possible by the proper
development of the technologies that are transforming in nature that is regarding transportation
as well as communication. As distinguished from the globalization, the entire emphasis is based
on the worldwide conditions that help in influencing the perception of the mobility of actions as
well as space and nature of the communication to social interaction. The internationalism focuses
on the actions of the individuals that are intentional in nature and this is the engine of
globalization as well.
With the study of Duong and Chua, (2016), the international faculty along with the
students is moving around the entire world freely that is contributing towards the process of
globalization. The proper internationalism of the higher education is allowing the students as
well as professors to properly cross borders as well as institutions that are challenging the
national loyalties of the students as well as faculty members. There are institutions that rely on

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the loyalty shift as to bring top talent around the world at prestigious universities. The field of the
endeavor as well as well as loyalty towards the institutions helps in providing stronger than
allegiance to the nationwide culture (Mitchell & Nielsen, 2012).
The institutions strive for flexibility in order to respond to the rapid changes in the
conditions of the market as in performing such activities the community colleges that are
operating in the global culture requires to quickly respond to the different technological
advancements along with the changes in the opportunities of the job. These are brought with the
help of the globalization of structure of the market (De Wit, 2015). The different institutions
strive for opportunities in the rapidly changing market that depends on internationalism as well
as globalization that acts as the contributing factor for the entire process of the globalization.
Globalization and internationalism factors can operate together in order to create global
interdependence in culture as well as politics.
Therefore, according to Altbach, (2015), it can be inferred that globalization is the
process that allows new order in the entire world of higher education. Starting from the
economical to political purposes, nationalism is the process that helps in providing the way to the
culture that depends on the legitimacy along with global name expansion and recognition. The
higher education that survive as well as fit the best are the ones that participate in the global
changes and they are the ones which survive the best as well.
Competition Pressure Leading to Unethical Practices in Universities:
The globalization and the economical development indiscrimination in the name of the
neo liberalism refer to the argumentative study which is concerned about the unethical behavior
of the universities. The unethical behavior is developed and based on the morally unethical

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practices of the governing bodies and the management of the universities for sustaining in the
market. The contemporary global market is extremely competitive and is a constant threat to the
universities. Therefore, the sustainability of the universities is one of the major concerns for the
governing bodies of the same. The constant threat of the sustainability of the universities in the
global market leads the same to practice unethical behavior.
According to Denisova-Schmidt, (2017), the unethical practices of the universities are
due to the pressure of the constant competition in the global market for the providence of the
better quality of higher education to the students. In addition, it must also be noted that the rapid
increase of the needs of the international students for the higher education, is leading the
universities to practice the unethical behavior. The unethical practices further lead the
universities to the corruption which ultimately creates the negative impression over the
sustainability of the universities. The different form of the corruptions is the different form of the
unethical practices such as the bribery, collusion, conflict of interest, favoritism, fraud, lobbying
and many others (Osipian, 2013). The market of the higher education is wide and expanded in
the global context and the pressure of the competition within the industry is one of the major
factors that influence not only the sustainability of the universities but also unethical behavior
within the universities.
The unethical and illegal practices are seen in mostly in the private universities. Kezar,
Chambers and Burkhardt, (2015) identified the reason for this is to the urge and need for
sustaining in the global competitive market of higher education. After the conceptualization and
the implementation of the neo liberalism within the society, the number of the universities has
increased and still has been increasing in order to fulfill the need of the growing students. To
fulfill the needs and the demand of the international students, universities are unknowingly

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falling the victims of the corruption due to the unethical practices. The private universities are
the perfect examples for the same. In accordance to the Busemeyerb and Trampusch, (2012), the
privatization of the universities after the idealization of the neo liberalism, the rate of the illegal
and unethical practices have increased in terms of the public goods, human capital, quality of the
education and the recruitments of the students. However, there are laws and regulation for the
prevention of the unethical practices within the universities.
The public goods in the context of the higher education are referred to the impact of the
education towards the betterment of the society. The constant competition within the industry of
the higher education is forcing the institutions to practice the unethical behaviors (Kezar,
Chambers & Burkhardt, 2015). The privatization of the higher education universities is resulting
into the privatization of the public goods. It must be remembered that one of the purposes of
providing the higher education to the students is to create the public goods for the wellbeing of
the students as well as the societies. The constant and continuous force of the competition within
the industry of the higher education is destroying the public goods provided by the education
institutions (Altbach, 2015). The providence of the vocational training, communicative training
and others are considered as the public goods in terms of providing higher education by the
universities (Peters, 2013). The unethical practices regarding the same is the reference to the
unethical preservation of the opportunities which affects the career of the students. As opined by
Pulfrey and Butera, (2013), the political aspect of the society also is a predominant factor over
the universities for practicing unethical behaviors within the universities in order to maintain the
sustainability of the institutions in the competitive global market.
The human capital is another important factor in the higher education system that is
affected by the unethical practice of the institutions. Another major purpose of the higher

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educational organizations is to make the rich and competent human capital. The corruption
within the educational organization affects the service of the same projects negative impact on
the human capitals. Holborow, (2012) stated that the role of the universities is important and
crucial in creating the rich and professional human capital. However, it is found in most of the
cases that to meet the line of target determined by the competition in the higher education
industry, the institutions the victims of the unethical and illegal practices. The competitive nature
of the market encourages the universities to practice unethical behaviors. Again, the political
factor plays an important role in the illegal practice within the universities (Tanzharikova, 2012).
However, the allegation is not always true as because sometimes it is the influence of the
political factor that helps to prevent the unethical practices in the educational organizations
(Busemeyer & Trampusch, 2012).
The quality of the education is next aspect that is affected by the improper practices of
the universities. For the maintenance of the sustainability and capture more students towards the
specific educational organizations, the same is practicing illegal and improper behaviors which
are intimately deteriorating the quality of the education. As per the opinion of Lunsford, (2013),
the quality of the education is declining due to the competition within the market of the higher
education. The educational institution is more into the activities of attracting the students from
the international context than to provide quality education to the existing students. According to
Marginson (2013), the quality of the education must be the highest and primary priority of the
educational institutions as the basic purpose of the universities is to make enriched and qualified
students. Hence, the importance of quality education is important in terms of producing the better
human resource. The unethical and the illegal practice of the universities for matching the steps

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with the competitive nature of the education industry are making the quality of the education
decline.
Recruitment of the students within the universities of higher education requires eligibility
of the students as the recruitment is one of the vital processes. The recruitments of the students in
the universities of the higher education are done through some process that examines the
eligibility of the students. The corruption within the universities refers to unfiltered recruitments.
Hazelkorn, (2015) has stated that unethical practice in the context of the recruitment of the
students is capable of depriving the eligible students of getting the proper opportunity. On the
other hand, the organizational behavior is also hampered by the unethical recruitment process
and can lead the institution towards the fall. For maintaining the position of the educational
organization within the global market of higher education, the universities practice the unethical
behavior in terms of the recruitment of the students. As mentioned by Tang and Tang, (2012),
the unethical practices of the educational organization in the context of the recruitment process
of the students is due to the urge of the organizations to prove itself best in the industry in order
to maintain the sustainability. On the other hand, the illegal practice of the organization in the
initial stage of the providence of the higher education, strengthen the level of the corruption
within the universities. In accordance to Macfarlane, (2013), the recruitment is the most vital
process of the educational organization as it reflects the transparency of the same. In addition,
the legal and ethical consideration is also capable of attracting more students from the
international context. However, the conceptualization of the neo liberalism has shifted the
ideologies of the educational institutions and made the same practice the improper and unethical
activities for sustaining in the competitive international market (Lunsford et al., 2013).

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Therefore, it is evident from the above discourse on the literature review of the neo
liberalism and the competition in the higher education system that the same is the result of the
impact of the neo liberalism on the universities for higher education. The neo liberalism has not
only shifted the concept of the competition, but also transformed the structure and the practice of
the educational institutions. The impact of the neo liberalism on the higher educational sector has
increased the level and rate of competition within the universities. The competition has become
the part of the higher education industry in terms of the impact of the globalization and
internationalization. On the other hand, the increase of the pressure to compete with the
universities within the global context, the educational institutes are into the unethical and illegal
practice. The scholars defined the unethical practices of the educational organizations as the
pressure of maintaining the sustainability of the global market of competition.

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Reference:
Altbach, P. (2015). Higher education and the WTO: Globalization run amok. International
Higher Education, (23).
Altbach, P. (2015). Knowledge and education as international commodities. International higher
education, (28).
Altbach, P. (2015). Perspectives on internationalizing higher education. International Higher
Education, (27).
Bagley, S. S., & Portnoi L. M., (2016). Higher Education and the Discourse on Global
Competition: Vernacular Approaches Within Higher Education Policy
Documents. www.springer.com. Retrieved 31 October 2017, from
http://www.springer.com/9783319281902-c2.pdf
Busemeyer, M. R., & Trampusch, C. (Eds.). (2012). The political economy of collective skill
formation. Oxford University Press.
De Wit, H. (2015). Internationalization misconceptions. International Higher Education, (64).
Denisova-Schmidt, E. (2017). The Challenges of Academic Integrity in Higher Education:
Current Trends and Prospects.
Duong, V. A., & Chua, C. S. (2016). English as a symbol of internationalization in higher
education: a case study of Vietnam. Higher Education Research & Development, 35(4),
669-683.
Gale, T., & Parker, S. (2013). Widening participation in Australia in higher education.