In this paper the application of industry-developed principles of tota
l quality management (TQM) to a university setting is discussed. In so
me aspects, universities already have an advantageous situation for th
e application of TQM while in some others mon universities have a very
long way to go. Some cultural and decentralization aspects are positi
ve while, for example, bureaucracy and self-sufficiency are on the neg
ative side.