Jelena Brankovic is a PhD student within the Odysseus project Higher Education Governance at the University of Ghent.
Maja Kovacevic is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Belgrade.
Peter Maassen is a Professor of Higher Education at the University of Oslo.
Bjørn Stensaker is a Professor of Higher education at the University of Oslo.
Martina Vukasovic is a post-doc researcher within the Odysseus project Higher Education Governance at the University of Ghent. During the preparation of this book she was the research fellow at the Department of Education of the University of Oslo.

Higher education in the Western Balkans is currently undergoing substantial changes influenced by European reform ideas, new domestic policy initiatives and universities and colleges in the region trying to adapt to new expectations and challenges. The book analyzes recent changes in both higher education policy and practices in the region.

Contents: Bjørn Stensaker/Jelena Brankovic/Maja Kovacevic/Peter Maassen/Martina Vukasovic: Introduction - Martina Vukasovic: How Can and How Does Europe Matter? - Danijela Dolenec/Nikola Baketa/Peter Maassen: Europeanizing Higher Education and Research Systems of the Western Balkans - Antigoni Papadimitri u/Bjørn Stensaker: Governance Capacity of Western Balkan Universities: Perceptions of Institutional Leadership - Jelena Brankovic: Positioning of Private Higher Education Institutions in the Western Balkans: Emulation, Differentiation and Legitimacy Building - Martin Galevski: Dimensions of Higher Education Governance in Macedonia: Exploring the Roles of the State - Sanja Kanazir/Antigoni Papadimitriou/Bjørn Stensaker: Quality Assurance Agencies in the Western Balkans: Balancing European Standards and Domestic Needs? - Martina Vukasovic: Quality Assurance in Croatia and Serbia: Analysis of Changes of Policy and Internal Organizational Practices - Antigoni Papadimitriou/Nina Brankovic/Snezana or evic: The Regional Links of Universities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia - Heliona Miço/Suzana Papadhopulli: Differentiation of the Mission of Higher Education Institutions through Developing and Establishing Regional Development Centres at Each Regional University - Bjørn Stensaker/Jelena Brankovic/Maja Kovacevic/Peter Maassen/Martina Vukasovic: Epilogue.

Higher education in the Western Balkans is currently undergoing substantial changes as a result of European reform ideas, new domestic policy initiatives as well as universities and colleges in the region trying to adapt to new expectations and challenges. The book analyzes the changes in both policy and practices in various countries in this region predominantly through a comparative approach. Through a number of empirical studies in which new data was collected and systematized, the book shows how countries in the Western Balkans are struggling to maneuver between adapting to broader European reform ideas while at the same time handling domestic challenges. Hence, the book is a valuable contribution to those interested in studying how various higher education systems are developing in the different European regions.