Contents -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- Executive Summary -- Introduction -- What Does It Mean to Be a World-Class University? -- Paths to Transformation -- Implications for the World Bank -- Conclusion -- Chapter 1 What Does It Mean to Be a World-Class University? -- Concentration of Talent -- Abundant Resources -- Appropriate Governance -- Alignment of Success Factors -- Chapter 2 Paths to Transformation -- The Role of Government -- The Role of Other Actors -- Strategic Dimensions at the Institutional Level -- Chapter 3 Implications for the World Bank -- Conclusion -- Appendix A Comparison of the Methodologies for the Main International Rankings -- Appendix B Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) 2008 ARWU Country Ranking -- Appendix C The Times Higher Education Supplemet (THES) 2008 Country Ranking -- Appendix D Key Characteristics of World-Class Universities -- Appendix E Tertiary Education Reform in Denmark: The University Act of 2003 -- Appendix F Recent Research Excellence Initiatives -- Appendix G The Best by Any Measure, 2007-08 -- Bibliography -- Index -- Boxes -- 1.1 Understanding and Using Rankings to Their Best Advantage -- 1.2 The Best of Both Worlds at the University of Oxford -- 1.3 Impact of the Talent War on the University of Wisconsin -- 1.4 Watching the Rankings: The French Experience -- 2.1 Setting the Policy Framework for Higher Education in California -- 2.2 Tertiary Education Reform in China -- 2.3 Do Governments Care about Higher Education? Lessons from the Soccer Field -- 2.4 The Indian Institutes of Technology: A Success Story -- 2.5 The German Initiative for Excellence -- 2.6 Developing a New Vision at Clemson University -- 2.7 Obstacles to the Transformation of Chinese Universities -- 2.8 How Diasporas Can Contribute to Development in Home Countries.

2.9 When "the Best" Compete for You: China's Rise -- Figures -- 1 Geographical Distribution of World-Class Universities -- 2 Characteristics of a World-Class University (WCU): Alignment of Key Factors -- 1.1 Geographical Distribution of World-Class Universities -- 1.2 Characteristics of a World-Class University (WCU): Alignment of Key Factors -- 2.1 The Stagnation and Change Diamonds -- Tables -- 1 Top 20 Universities in THES and SJTU World Rankings, 2008 -- 2 Costs and Benefits of Strategic Approaches for Establishing World-Class Universities -- 1.1 Top 20 Universities in THES and SJTU World Rankings, 2008 -- 1.2 Weight of Graduate Students in Selected Universities -- 1.3 Comparison of U.S. and U.K. Endowment Levels -- 1.4 International Comparison of Average Salaries of Researchers -- 1.5 Annual Compensation: Highest Paid University Presidents, 2005-06 -- 1.6 Ranking of Universities Where Professors Earn Most -- 2.1 Defining Factors of Excellence for World-Class Tertiary Education Institutions -- 2.2 Costs and Benefits of Strategic Approaches for Establishing World-Class Universities -- 2.3 Rankings by Discipline in U.S. News & World Report, 2008 -- 3.1 Type of World Bank Support by Country Group.