This is first book to look comprehensively at Asian higher education. Its focus is on the transformation of universities from dependence to full autonomy. Asia's universities are the fastest growing in the world, and Asian academic systems are now internationally recognized for their growing research excellence. This volume looks at how Asian universities have developed in the post-war period and how diverse academic systems deal with the universally important influence of the Western academic model. Eleven countries are considered in this book including China, Japan and India. Academic systems never under direct colonial control are included such as Thailand and China as well as universities that have emerged from colonial control. The significant case of Japan and its former colonies, Korea and Taiwan is included. This volume is unique not only for the scope of its coverage but because it links the Western academic heritage with the current dynamic Asian realities. Each of the chapters is written by exoerts from the country under consideration.