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Higher Education in the UK and the USA since Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan: Converging Models?ProgrammeMorning09:00-09:30 registration and opening remarks09:30-11:00 SESSION A - THE MARKETISATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION    1) Magali JULIAN, Higher Education in the UK under Tony Blair as seen through the media     2) Bahram BEKHRADNIA, The English Experiment in Market-based Higher Education - ideology and reality disconnected     3) John HALSEY, Kenneth O'BRIEN, Education Markets in English and American Universities 11:00-11:30 tea / coffee11:30-13:00 SESSION B - THE ECONOMICS OF HIGHER EDUCATION    4) Carole MASSEYS-BERTONECHE, The Evolution of Funding Policies in American and British Elite Universities     5) James C&#212;T&#201;, The Consumer Model of Higher Education: The BA-lite' awarded in the US, UK, and Canada     6) Steven WARD, The Moral Projects of Neoliberalism and Higher Education Reform in the US and the UK 13.00-14:00 lunchprogramme - afternoon14:00-15:30 SESSION C - THE ISSUES OF INEQUALITY ANDACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION    7) Anna ZIMDARS, The Issues of Access and Inequalities to Higher Education in the UK and the USA     8) Isabelle SINIC-BOUHAOUALA, Higher Education in the UK and California: Issues of access, equality and achievement in a time of Excellence     9) Christine SOULAS, Access and the rise of accountability in the governance of public universities in the US 15:30-16:00 tea / coffee16:00-17:30 SESSION D - THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION    10) Marie-Agn&#232;s DETOURBE, The Quality of the Student'sLearning Experience: A strategic dimension of American and British higher education systems in the early 21st century     11) Chris RUST, The Student Experience in the US and the UK: A depressing picture of decline     12) Maria GRASSO, Cristina OLCESE, Clare SAUNDERS,Student Political Engagement in the UK 17:30-18:00 closing remarksSpeakers    Bahram BEKHRADNIA, PhD, Director, The Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), Oxford, UK,     James C&#212;T&#201;, PhD, Professor of Sociology, University of Western Ontario, Canada,     Marie-Agn&#232;s DETOURBE, PhD, Teaching Fellow (Prag) in British Studies, Universit&#233; Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, France,     Maria GRASSO, PhD, Lecturer in Politics, University of Sheffield, UK,     John HALSEY, PhD, Resident Director, SUNY Brockport London Program, Brunel University, UK and State University of New York (SUNY), USA,     Magali JULIAN, PhD in British Studies, Teaching Fellow (Prag), Universit&#233; Montpellier 1, France,     Carole MASSEYS-BERTONECHE, PhD, Associate Professor in American Studies (MCF), Universit&#233; Montesquieu-Bordeaux 4, France,     Kenneth O'BRIEN, PhD, Associate Professor, State University of New York (SUNY), USA,     Cristina OLCESE, PhD, Post-doctoral Research Fellow (ESRC) in Politics and International Relations, University of Southampton, UK,     Chris RUST, PhD, Professor of Higher Education, Associate Dean (Academic Policy), Oxford Brookes University, UK,     Clare SAUNDERS, PhD, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations (RCUK Academic Fellow), University of Southampton, UK,     Isabelle SINIC-BOUHAOUALA, PhD, Doctor in American Studies, member of CREW research group, Universit&#233; Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3, France,     Christine SOULAS, PhD, Associate Professor in American Studies (MCF), Universit&#233; Rennes 2, France,     Steven WARD, PhD, Professor of Sociology, Chair of Social Sciences, Western Connecticut State University, USA,     Anna ZIMDARS, PhD, Lecturer in Higher Education, King's College London, UK. PresentationThis conference will address the similarities and differences in higher education between the United Kingdom and the United States over the last thirty years. It will attempt to ascertain to what extent the British and American systems of higher education have been converging since the 1980s, and whether they may now be referred to as a particular social, economic, institutional, and ideological model. A generation ago, the higher education systems in the United Kingdom and the United States were dissimilar in a number of ways. From funding and fees to participation and dropout rates, there was a cleavage between the two countries. However, the landscape of higher education and the student experience have changed considerably on both sides of the Atlantic over the past three decades; much has altered since Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979 and Ronald Reagan President of the United States in 1981. On the one hand, the financial cost for students to go to university has increased considerably, whilst an ever greater emphasis has been laid on individual responsibility, quality, league tables and market forces. On the other hand, there have been social policy changes regarding inclusivity, diversity and affirmative action. More fundamentally, the essential role and purpose of higher education have been increasingly debated in relation to its economic benefit to the individual and the country, rather than the part it plays in personal self-fulfilment and self-betterment. Do the higher education systems in the United Kingdom and the United States now mirror each other and constitute a specific model?Papers will deal with issues linked to the recent evolution of higher education, for example, the role fulfilled by higher education and its purpose for the individual and society as a whole, or any of the topics mentioned in this non-exhaustive list:    The economics of higher education: the funding of higher education, public funding, competition for funds, sponsorship, private sector participation, links to business &#38; industry, market principles, marketing practices, budgets, budget cuts, department closures, international and national rankings, league tables, dependency on international students, assessment of teaching staff, the funding of research and development;     The issues of access and inequalities: the socio-economic make up of students, social mix, students from minorities or disadvantaged backgrounds, race issues, gender issues, disability issues, attempts to diversify student profiles and social engineering, affirmative action, widening access, social justice, social mobility, contextual data, outreach work, reproduction of inequalities, residential segregation, elitism, exclusionary practices, the Russell Group and the Ivy League, the degree gap, participation rates, regional variations;     The student experience: stratification of the student experience, types of degrees on offer, quantity and quality of teaching received, student/staff ratio, place of residence and accommodation, dependency on parents, grants and scholarships, student debt, studies/paid-work balance, tuition fees, student protests, student unions, socialising, on/off campus life, the role of alumni and networks, post-graduate employment, dropout rates, gap years. Informations    Location: La Maison de la recherche de la Sorbonne Nouvelle, 4, rue des Irlandais, 75005 Paris, France - to see map click here     Registration is advised     Contact: Sarah Pickard - sarah.pickard@univ-paris3.fr The conference is taking place with the kind support of:    Le conseil scientifique et les relations internationales de l'Universit&#233; Sorbonne Nouvelle;     The UK Social Policy Association - SPA (http://www.social-policy.org.uk) 