Non-profit universities focus on niche areas and stress community service. Not that state universities could get going immediately. India started cutting grants to its state schools ten years ago. Many Indian universities are hard-pressed to continue subscriptions to academic journals and supplying their labs with chemicals. Science and technology schools are faring better.
Australian universities are well along the road to autonomy and self-sufficiency.
But they still find it a struggle to raise money. Whatever the doubts, though, reform is unlikely to be rolled back. Japan's University Council, composed of university presidents and business people, has bowed to the inevitable and now recommends recognition of course credits and degrees awarded by overseas Internet universities. It also endorses the Ministry of Education's proposal to overhaul the admission system. South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand are considering similar changes.