4 - Excellence, Relevance and the University: The “Missing Middle” in Socio-Economic Engagement
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.
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- Bache, I. and Flinders, M., 2004, Multi-Level Governance and British Politics, Multi-Level Governance, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Bauman, Z., 1989, Legislators and Interpreters: On Modernity, Post-Modernity and Intellectuals, Cambridge: Polity.
- Bauman, Z., 1997, Postmodernity and its Discontents, Cambridge: Polity. Baumard, P., 1999, Tacit Knowledge in Organisations, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Beck, U. and Beck-Gernsheim, E., 2002, Individualisation: Institutionalised Individualism and its Social and Political Consequences, London: Sage.
- Borras-Alomar, S., Christiansen, T. and Rodriguez-Pose, A., 1994, ‘Towards a “Eu- rope of the Regions”?: Visions and Reality from a Critical Perspective’, Re- gional Policy and Politics, Vol. 4, No. 2.
- Brenner, N., 2004, New State Spaces: Urban Governance and the Rescaling of Statehood, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Castells, M. and Hall, P., 1994, Technopoles of the World, London: Rout edge.
- Castells, M., 1996, The Rise of the Network Society, Oxford: Blackwell.
- Charles D., Perry, B. and Benneworth, P., 2004, Towards a Multi-Level Science Policy: Regional Science Policy in a European Context, Regional Studies As- sociation.
- Charles, D. and Benneworth, P., 2001, ‘Are We Realising Our Potential? Joining Up Science and Technology Policy in the English Regions’, Regional Studies, Vol. 35, No. 1, p. 76.
- Charles, D.R., 2006, ‘Multi-Level University Systems Models’, in B. Perry, ed., Building Science Regions and Cities. Regions Newsletter, Vol. 263, pp. 7-8.
- Clark, B., 1998, Creating Entrepreneurial Universities: Organisational Pathways of Transformation, New York: Pergamon.
- Communiqué of the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Higher Education, 2003, Realising the European Higher Education Area, 19 September, Berlin de la Mothe, J., ed., 2001, Science, Technology and Governance, London and New York: Continuum.
- Delanty, G., 2001, Challenging Knowledge. The University in the Knowledge Soci- ety. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Dresner, S., 2001,The Dynamics of European Science and Technology Policies. Aldershot: Ashgate.
- Drucker, P., 1998, From Capitalism to Knowledge Society: The Knowledge Economy. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann.
- Florida, R., 2002, The Rise of the Creative Class and How It’s Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life, New York: Basic Books.
- Fuller, S., 2000, The Governance of Science, Buckingham: Open University Press. Gibbons, M., 2001, ‘Governance and the New Production of Knowledge’, in J. de la Mothe, ed., Science, Technology and Governance, London and New York: Continuum.
- Gibbons, M., Limoges, C., Nowotny, H., Schwartzmann, S., Scott, P. and Trow, M., 1994, The New Production of Knowledge, London: Sage, pp. 33-49.
- Gieryn, T., 1999, Cultural Boundaries of Science: Credibility on the Line, Chi- cago: University of Chicago Press.
- Harding, S., 2006, Science and Social Inequality: Feminist and Postcolonial Is- sues, Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
- Harloe, M., and Perry, B., 2004, ‘Universities, Localities and Regional Develop- ment: The Emergence of the Mode 2 University?’, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 212-223.
- Hellstrom, T. and Jacob, M., 2000, ‘The Scientification of Politics or the Politicisation of Science? Traditionalist Science-policy Discourse and its Quarrels with Mode 2 Epistemology’, Social Epistemology, Vol. 14, No.1.
- Jasanoff, S., 1997, Comparative Science and Technology Policy, Cheltenham: Elgar. Jeffrey, C., 2000, ‘Sub-National Mobilisation and European Integration: Does it Make any Difference?’, Journal of Common Market Studies, Vol. 38, No.1, pp.1-23.
- Jessop, B, 2002, The Future of the Capitalist State in its Place, Cambridge: Polity.
- Juma, C., 2005, We Need to Reinvent the African University, Science and Develop- ment Network.
- Knorr Cetina, K., 1999, Epistemic Cultures: How the Sciences Make Knowledge, Harvard: Harvard University Press.
- Le Galès, P., 2002, European Cities: Social Conflict and Governance, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
- Luque, E., 2001, ‘Whose Knowledge Economy?. Social Epistemology, Vol. 15, No.3, pp. 187-200.
- Lyotard, J. F., 1984, The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, Man- chester: Manchester University Press.
- Marks, G.,1993, ‘Structural Policy and Multi-level Governance in the EC’, in The State of the European Community: Vol. 2 The Maastricht Debates and Beyond, Harlow: Lynne Rienner, pp. 391 410.
- May, T., 2001, ‘Power, Knowledge and Organisational Transformation: Adminis- tration as Depoliticisation’, Social Epistemology, Vol 15, No. 3, pp. 171-186.
- May, T., 2005, ‘Transformations in Academic Production: Context, Content and Consequences’, European Journal of Social Theory, Vol 8, No.2, pp.193-209. May, T., 2006, ‘The Missing Middle in Methodology: Occupation Cultures and Institutional Conditions’, Methodological Innovations Online, Vol. 1, No. 1. (http://ww.methodologicalinnovations.org). 15 August 2006.
- May, T. and Perry, B., eds., 2006a, ‘Universities in the Knowledge Economy: Places of Expectation / Spaces for Reflection?’, Social Epistemology, Vol 20, No. 3-4. May, T., and Perry, B., 2006b, ‘Cities, Knowledge and Universities, Transforma- tions in the Image of the Intangible’, Social Epistemology, Vol 20, No. 3-4, pp. 259-282.
- Mustar, P. and Laredo, P., 2002, ‘Innovation and Research Policy in France 1980- 2000 or the Disappearance of the Colbertist State’, Research Policy, Vol 31, pp. 55-72.
- Nightingale, P. and Martin, P., 2004, ‘The Myth of the Biotech Revolution’, Trends in Biotechnology, Vol. 22, No. 11.
- Nowotny, H., Gibbons, M. and Scott, P., 2001, Rethinking Science: Knowledge and the Public in Age of Uncertainty, Cambridge: Polity Press.
- Ohmae, K., 1995, The End of the Nation State, New York: Free Press.
- Pels, D., 2003, Unhastening Science, Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. Perry, B., 2006, ‘Science, Society and the University’, Social Epistemology, Vol 20, No. 3-4, pp. 201-219.
- Perry, B., and May, T., 2006, ‘Regional and Local Science Policies: Towards Bal- anced Excellence and Growth’, in B. Perry, ed., Building Science Regions and Cities. Regions Newsletter, Vol. 263, pp 10-11.
- Polanyi, M., 1966, The Tacit Dimension, Garden City, New York: Doubleday.
- Power, M., 1999, The Audit Society: Rituals of Verification. Oxford: OxfordUniversity Press.
- Readings, B., 1996, The University in Ruins. Harvard: Harvard University Press.
- Sanz-Menendez, L. and Cruz-Castro, L., 2005, ‘Explaining the Science and Tech- nology Policies of Regional Governments’, Regional Studies, Vol. 39, No.7.
- Scarborough, H., 2001, ‘Knowledge a la Mode: The Rise of Knowledge Manage- ment and Its Implications for Views of Knowledge Production’, Social Epistemology,Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 201-213.
- Senker, J., Balázs, K., Higgins, T., Laredo, P., Munoz, E., Santesmases, M., Espinosa de las Monteros, J., Reale, E., di Marchi, M., Scarda, A., Sandstrom, U., Schimank, U., Winnes, M., Skoie, H. and Thorsteinsdottir, H.,1999, European Comparison of Public Research Systems, TSER Project No. SOE1 – CT96 – 1036.
- Sharp, M., 1998, ‘Competitiveness and Cohesion - Are the Two Compatible?’, Re- search Policy,Vol. 27.
- Simmie, J., Sennett, J., Wood, P. and Hart, D., 2002, ‘Innovation in Europe: A Tale of Networks, Knowledge and Trade in Five Cities’, Regional Studies, Vol.36,
References
Bache, I. and Flinders, M., 2004, Multi-Level Governance and British Politics, Multi-Level Governance, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bauman, Z., 1989, Legislators and Interpreters: On Modernity, Post-Modernity and Intellectuals, Cambridge: Polity.
Bauman, Z., 1997, Postmodernity and its Discontents, Cambridge: Polity. Baumard, P., 1999, Tacit Knowledge in Organisations, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Beck, U. and Beck-Gernsheim, E., 2002, Individualisation: Institutionalised Individualism and its Social and Political Consequences, London: Sage.
Borras-Alomar, S., Christiansen, T. and Rodriguez-Pose, A., 1994, ‘Towards a “Eu- rope of the Regions”?: Visions and Reality from a Critical Perspective’, Re- gional Policy and Politics, Vol. 4, No. 2.
Brenner, N., 2004, New State Spaces: Urban Governance and the Rescaling of Statehood, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Castells, M. and Hall, P., 1994, Technopoles of the World, London: Rout edge.
Castells, M., 1996, The Rise of the Network Society, Oxford: Blackwell.
Charles D., Perry, B. and Benneworth, P., 2004, Towards a Multi-Level Science Policy: Regional Science Policy in a European Context, Regional Studies As- sociation.
Charles, D. and Benneworth, P., 2001, ‘Are We Realising Our Potential? Joining Up Science and Technology Policy in the English Regions’, Regional Studies, Vol. 35, No. 1, p. 76.
Charles, D.R., 2006, ‘Multi-Level University Systems Models’, in B. Perry, ed., Building Science Regions and Cities. Regions Newsletter, Vol. 263, pp. 7-8.
Clark, B., 1998, Creating Entrepreneurial Universities: Organisational Pathways of Transformation, New York: Pergamon.
Communiqué of the Conference of Ministers Responsible for Higher Education, 2003, Realising the European Higher Education Area, 19 September, Berlin de la Mothe, J., ed., 2001, Science, Technology and Governance, London and New York: Continuum.
Delanty, G., 2001, Challenging Knowledge. The University in the Knowledge Soci- ety. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Dresner, S., 2001,The Dynamics of European Science and Technology Policies. Aldershot: Ashgate.
Drucker, P., 1998, From Capitalism to Knowledge Society: The Knowledge Economy. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Florida, R., 2002, The Rise of the Creative Class and How It’s Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life, New York: Basic Books.
Fuller, S., 2000, The Governance of Science, Buckingham: Open University Press. Gibbons, M., 2001, ‘Governance and the New Production of Knowledge’, in J. de la Mothe, ed., Science, Technology and Governance, London and New York: Continuum.
Gibbons, M., Limoges, C., Nowotny, H., Schwartzmann, S., Scott, P. and Trow, M., 1994, The New Production of Knowledge, London: Sage, pp. 33-49.
Gieryn, T., 1999, Cultural Boundaries of Science: Credibility on the Line, Chi- cago: University of Chicago Press.
Harding, S., 2006, Science and Social Inequality: Feminist and Postcolonial Is- sues, Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
Harloe, M., and Perry, B., 2004, ‘Universities, Localities and Regional Develop- ment: The Emergence of the Mode 2 University?’, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 212-223.
Hellstrom, T. and Jacob, M., 2000, ‘The Scientification of Politics or the Politicisation of Science? Traditionalist Science-policy Discourse and its Quarrels with Mode 2 Epistemology’, Social Epistemology, Vol. 14, No.1.
Jasanoff, S., 1997, Comparative Science and Technology Policy, Cheltenham: Elgar. Jeffrey, C., 2000, ‘Sub-National Mobilisation and European Integration: Does it Make any Difference?’, Journal of Common Market Studies, Vol. 38, No.1, pp.1-23.
Jessop, B, 2002, The Future of the Capitalist State in its Place, Cambridge: Polity.
Juma, C., 2005, We Need to Reinvent the African University, Science and Develop- ment Network.
Knorr Cetina, K., 1999, Epistemic Cultures: How the Sciences Make Knowledge, Harvard: Harvard University Press.
Le Galès, P., 2002, European Cities: Social Conflict and Governance, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
Luque, E., 2001, ‘Whose Knowledge Economy?. Social Epistemology, Vol. 15, No.3, pp. 187-200.
Lyotard, J. F., 1984, The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge, Man- chester: Manchester University Press.
Marks, G.,1993, ‘Structural Policy and Multi-level Governance in the EC’, in The State of the European Community: Vol. 2 The Maastricht Debates and Beyond, Harlow: Lynne Rienner, pp. 391 410.
May, T., 2001, ‘Power, Knowledge and Organisational Transformation: Adminis- tration as Depoliticisation’, Social Epistemology, Vol 15, No. 3, pp. 171-186.
May, T., 2005, ‘Transformations in Academic Production: Context, Content and Consequences’, European Journal of Social Theory, Vol 8, No.2, pp.193-209. May, T., 2006, ‘The Missing Middle in Methodology: Occupation Cultures and Institutional Conditions’, Methodological Innovations Online, Vol. 1, No. 1. (http://ww.methodologicalinnovations.org). 15 August 2006.
May, T. and Perry, B., eds., 2006a, ‘Universities in the Knowledge Economy: Places of Expectation / Spaces for Reflection?’, Social Epistemology, Vol 20, No. 3-4. May, T., and Perry, B., 2006b, ‘Cities, Knowledge and Universities, Transforma- tions in the Image of the Intangible’, Social Epistemology, Vol 20, No. 3-4, pp. 259-282.
Mustar, P. and Laredo, P., 2002, ‘Innovation and Research Policy in France 1980- 2000 or the Disappearance of the Colbertist State’, Research Policy, Vol 31, pp. 55-72.
Nightingale, P. and Martin, P., 2004, ‘The Myth of the Biotech Revolution’, Trends in Biotechnology, Vol. 22, No. 11.
Nowotny, H., Gibbons, M. and Scott, P., 2001, Rethinking Science: Knowledge and the Public in Age of Uncertainty, Cambridge: Polity Press.
Ohmae, K., 1995, The End of the Nation State, New York: Free Press.
Pels, D., 2003, Unhastening Science, Liverpool: Liverpool University Press. Perry, B., 2006, ‘Science, Society and the University’, Social Epistemology, Vol 20, No. 3-4, pp. 201-219.
Perry, B., and May, T., 2006, ‘Regional and Local Science Policies: Towards Bal- anced Excellence and Growth’, in B. Perry, ed., Building Science Regions and Cities. Regions Newsletter, Vol. 263, pp 10-11.
Polanyi, M., 1966, The Tacit Dimension, Garden City, New York: Doubleday.
Power, M., 1999, The Audit Society: Rituals of Verification. Oxford: OxfordUniversity Press.
Readings, B., 1996, The University in Ruins. Harvard: Harvard University Press.
Sanz-Menendez, L. and Cruz-Castro, L., 2005, ‘Explaining the Science and Tech- nology Policies of Regional Governments’, Regional Studies, Vol. 39, No.7.
Scarborough, H., 2001, ‘Knowledge a la Mode: The Rise of Knowledge Manage- ment and Its Implications for Views of Knowledge Production’, Social Epistemology,Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 201-213.
Senker, J., Balázs, K., Higgins, T., Laredo, P., Munoz, E., Santesmases, M., Espinosa de las Monteros, J., Reale, E., di Marchi, M., Scarda, A., Sandstrom, U., Schimank, U., Winnes, M., Skoie, H. and Thorsteinsdottir, H.,1999, European Comparison of Public Research Systems, TSER Project No. SOE1 – CT96 – 1036.
Sharp, M., 1998, ‘Competitiveness and Cohesion - Are the Two Compatible?’, Re- search Policy,Vol. 27.
Simmie, J., Sennett, J., Wood, P. and Hart, D., 2002, ‘Innovation in Europe: A Tale of Networks, Knowledge and Trade in Five Cities’, Regional Studies, Vol.36,