German universities established the foundations of modern universities everywhere in the 19th century. American universities had enormous international influence by the end of the 20th century. What then are the prospects for Chinese universities to set global standards in the 21st century? This lecture series will be based on eight case studies of universities on three continents. These lectures will investigate the past and present as well as the future prospects of leading universities in Germany, the United States, and Greater China. It will explore the role of faculty, finances, and governance in what makes for a great university. It will examine and assess three systems of higher education that have defined, or promise to define, excellence in higher education.