ABSTRACT
The article first develops a brief description of the Venezuelan system of higher education and then elaborates on the main efficiency, equity and management issues faced by higher education institutions in the country, with particular reference to public universities. Explosive growth followed by a period or recurrent funding crises is shown as the most recent pattern of development. Strong resistance to change in spite of the well documented shortcomings of current administrative and financing arrangements is presented as a salient characteristic of the system.
