The world is changing at an extremely rapid pace, and with this our society, environment, economy and labour market. These multitudinous changes require innovation at different levels, not least from Higher Education which is confronted with increased demands to make its contribution and benefit to society more tangible, visible and sustainable. This book addresses such demands. It represents a rich selection of international contributions from academics, researchers, policymakers and practitioners, and a rich diversity of topics under the umbrella of sustainability. The book discusses how higher education needs to renew itself to maintain its core values while responding in a sustainable way to multiple crises, local demands and global needs, threats and opportunities. Contributors are: Iyad Abualrub, Avril Margaret Brandon, Bruno Broucker, Lejo Buning, Cynthia Cogswell, Vanessa Cui, Kurt De Wit, Frans de Vijlder, Mervi Friman, Martina Gaisch, Anne Gannon, Caroline Hetherington, Ester Hoehle, Rene Krempkow, Anne Laakso, Lotta Linko, Aleksandra Lis, Goeran Melin, Clare Milsom, Matt O'Leary, Jason Pina, Romulo Pinheiro, Ilana Pressick, Rosalind Pritchard, Victoria Rammer, Bairbre Redmond, Stephanie Reynolds, Lee Roberts, Radoslaw Rybkowski, Peter Schuur, Wafa Singh, Odd Rune Stalheim, Nathalie Turville and Nick White.

After the unification of Germany had first been greeted with euphoria on both sides of the Wall, it did not take long for disillusion to set in when it became obvious that structures, mentality, values and outlook were very different in the Old and New Bundeslander. Moreover, whereas during the initial phase the East Germans were hoping just for a reform of their existing systems, they were soon disappointed and had to accept the fact that a fusion was out of the question; instead, East German structures were expected to assimilate to those of West Germany which led to the accusation of the latter's "colonization" of East Germany. The restructuring of the education system played a crucial role in the transformation of East Germany; consequently, enormous sums were pumped into East German schools and the training of teachers. This is the first study in any language that closely examines the process re-education and addresses such vital questions as whether the reforms were educationally sound, to what degree they meshed with local circumstances, what measures were taken to fill the vacuum in moral and social values that was left by the discrediting of Marxism-Leninism, and what happened to the notion of "equality", the key principle of a socialist society. Contrasting the old and the new regime in the East, the author addresses these and many more critical issues. Numerous case studies and substantial interview material richly illustrate the author's arguments.