300117 Theorising Universities: Sociological Perspectives (S) (WiSe 2016/2017)

University is one of the few institutions in existence nowadays whose both origins and some of the defining features are distinctly medieval. University is certainly the only medieval institution which has ever since the early modern period been at the forefront of progress and discovery. Throughout its centuries-long history, it has shown great ability to remain relevant, while also being remarkably resilient to all sorts of external pressures. A scholar once noted that “changing a university is like moving a graveyard, you get no help from the people inside.” And indeed, universities are not particularly cooperative with those who try to force change on them - on the contrary.

However, many argue that today universities are not only facing unprecedented challenges, but that they are changing in a way that threatens the very essence of the institution that they represent. But is it really so? If yes, what do we make out of it? How does this affect students, professors, employers, countries, the entire world? How do we explain what we observe? And, if we are to go a step further, what do we do about that?

In this course, we will jointly address these and other related questions and look at how we can theoretically account for them. Specifically, the course should help students to:
- Critically reflect on the nature of university, as an institution and as an organisation, from a sociological perspective;
- Deepen their understanding of challenges universities nowadays face;
- Theoretically engage with global trends and processes, as well as context-specific dynamics in which contemporary universities operate.

Each session will be organised around one or two themes. The seminar will be interactive and students will be encouraged to share their ideas, thoughts, experiences and personal views on the issues discussed.

Bibliography

To be read before the course starts (December 9):

Clark, B. R. (1983). "The Higher Education System: Academic Organization in Cross-National Perspective". Berkeley: University of California Press. Chapter 1 “Knowledge” (pp. 11-26).
Kerr, C. (2001). "The Uses of the University". Harvard University Press. Chapter 1 "The Idea of Multiversity" (pp. 1-33).
Gumport, P. J. (2000). Academic restructuring: Organizational change and institutional imperatives. "Higher Education", 39(1), 67–91.
Lohmann, S. (2004). Can’t the university be more like business? "Economics of Governance", 5(1), 9–27.
Boulton, G. (2009, March 29). GLOBAL: What are universities for? "University World News", (69). Retrieved from http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20090326200944986
The world is going to university. (2015, March 28). "The Economist". Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21647285-more-and-more-money-being-spent-higher-education-too-little-known-about-whether-it
Marginson, S. (2010, May 30). The Rise of the Global University: 5 New Tensions. "The Chronicle of Higher Education". Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/The-Rise-of-the-Global/65694/
Deresiewicz, W. (2014, July 22). Don’t Send Your Kid to the Ivy League. "New Republic". Retrieved from https://newrepublic.com/article/118747/ivy-league-schools-are-overrated-send-your-kids-elsewhere

Additional reading (for the brave ones):

Clark, B. R. (1983). "The Higher Education System: Academic Organization in Cross-National Perspective". Berkeley: University of California Press. Chapters 7 & 8 “Values” and “Preferences” (pp. 240-276).
Meyer, J. W., Ramirez, F. O., Frank, D. J., & Schofer, E. (2008). Higher Education as an Institution. In P. J. Gumport (Ed.), "Sociology of Higher Education: Contributions and Their Contexts" (pp. 187–221). JHU Press.