How the corporate model is changing higher education
This article explores the shift in higher education toward corporate management models, emphasizing performance metrics and efficiency. It questions whether these business-oriented goals align with the traditional purpose of universities in knowledge creation.
Why it matters
It addresses a fundamental tension in modern academia between financial sustainability and the preservation of intellectual inquiry.
The corporate model has spread through higher education. Universities now talk about performance, targets, branding, and measurable outcomes. Senior administrators are expected to think like executives. Consultants advise on restructuring and efficiency. But does this borrowing make sense or does it change what a university is for? Professional administration is not the problem. Universities are large organisations that need financial discipline and sound planning. The real question is why should the logic of a corporation become the model for an institution whose purpose is the creation and questioning of knowledge?
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in