Régi, új felsőoktatási expanzió
Old and New Expansion of Higher Education

Summary/Abstract: The Study first looks at the reasons for the existence of mass higher education in the mid- twentieth century: economic and demographic reasons, the development of a postindustrial economy, democratization, the Sputnik ‘shock’, sociological reasons and ones related to political science. Next, the author examines what has changed these in the 21st century – slight alterations in economic approach, notable changes in demographic processes occurring in the developed world, a lessening of the traditional immersion base had by higher education. In contrast, the developing world is continuing to increase the numbers of the relevant age population taking up higher education; and there is a growing demand for higher education and increased mobility for students in higher education. Also, higher education in the developed world has become more commercialized and diversified. Higher education sociological drivers remain unchanged. Members of the expanded middle class ensure reproduction of the social situation in which their children go on to higher education, which phenomena maintains the expansion of higher education. In addition, institutional factors are operative here. Higher education institutions are self-motion systems – which is an essential factor when it comes to continuing expansion. The expenses, however, are not keeping pace with this growth in the number of students going into higher education – while public resources are stagnating, funds solely coming from individual contributions are (slowly) increasing.

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