Since the Middle Ages, the history of universities and colleges has been characterised by a tense and fruitful interplay of persistence and reform. The fact that these oldest institutions of organised knowledge transfer still exist today has to do with their ability to balance the constantly competing conservative and progressive elements of their educational mission. The contributions collected in this volume examine the conditions for the success of university and higher education between stagnation and progress from an educational history perspective spanning several epochs. International comparisons are taken into account in a variety of ways. In addition, it is shown which types of sources exist and how these can be used for research on university and higher education history from a global perspective.

This book is included in DOAB.