Issue

Vol. 4 No. 3 (2006): Journal of Higher Education in Africa

4 - Excellence, Relevance and the University: The “Missing Middle” in Socio-Economic Engagement

https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v4i3.1651
Beth Perry
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4335-1869
Tim May
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5040-8229

Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 4 No. 3 (2006): Journal of Higher Education in Africa

Abstract

The international political economy for higher education is marked by an increas- ing globalisation and regionalisation of activities. In this context an emphasis on the roles of universities as engines of economic growth and sub-national economic and social development can be seen. However, the de-contextualised nature of domi- nant neo-liberal global pressures gives rise to particular sets of issues for universi- ties and a “missing middle” between contexts of knowledge production and appli- cation. This article explores these issues in comparative context, drawing on empirical work undertaken on regional science policies in Europe and considering the impli- cations for African universities as they seek to fulfil a diverse range of scientific and civic roles. It is structured in three sections. First, it examines the global pressures that are leading to a rethinking and rescaling of science. Second, it analyses chang- ing discourses around excellence, relevance and context and in so doing identifies a convergence in models of national science policy. Finally, it examines the impli- cations for the global university order, including issues of stratification and diversi- fication and a resulting tension that emerges between the expectations of higher education and their capacities to deliver. It is this missing middle that needs consid- eration if expectations and capacity are to be more realistically matched for greater benefit.

Keywords

globalisation regionalisation roles of universities
Perry, B., & May, T. (2006). 4 - Excellence, Relevance and the University: The “Missing Middle” in Socio-Economic Engagement. Journal of Higher Education in Africa, 4(3), 69–91. https://doi.org/10.57054/jhea.v4i3.1651
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Author Biographies

Beth Perry

Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures, Manchester, UK. Email: b.perry@salford.ac.uk

 

Tim May

Director, Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures, Manchester, UK. Email: t.may@salford.ac.uk

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