Convergent evolution of European and U.S. education systems

Adapting to the environments of globalisation

This article aims to describe the convergent evolution of higher education systems in Europe and the United States, and to provide the reader with both a history of adaptations and lessons learned, which may be shared as an important part of international collaboration. Such adaptations are currently important components of internationalisation. There are societal driving forces to which European systems of higher education are adapting, yielding structural and functional elements similar to those in the United States. The article discusses each change in educational structure and function and the environmental forces driving these adaptations, along with the parallels seen in the U.S. These include degree structures, access to higher education, organisation of doctoral education and internationalisation.