The state has always played, in modern times, a major role in higher education system, although the degree of intervention changed over time and place. This long-time intervention of the state in higher education affairs is directly connected with the pursuit of some purposes. These have changed in the last decades, in the same way that the role of the higher education system within society faced itself some important changes.
After a brief presentation of the leading purposes for higher education, according to the policies observed during the last four decades, I will try to analyse what have been the strategies of policy intervention during the same period. Moreover, I will try to explain how the government related to higher education institutions, as far as the pursuit of the referred objectives is concerned. Finally, I will attempt to explain why these changes in purposes and strategy cannot be dissociated from the state's increasing financial constraints. These have played a major role in the relationship between the state and higher education institutions. Furthermore, the kind of objectives pursued by the state, as well as its financial constraints, are necessarily associated with a change of the policy model.
In this analysis I will focus almost exclusively on the Western European experiences, namely those of the countries associated with the so-called continental tradition. Moreover, I will give special attention to the Portuguese higher education system, integrating it in the European trend.

Pedro Nuno Teixeira - Faculdade de Economia do Porto