There is the mantra that 'universities are not business'. However, others believe that universities already had become business-driven and reveal that higher education institutions should agree and focus on improving their operation as applying business concepts. There are many arguments about the commercialization of universities while it has been a very controversial topic. Nature of academic institutions may be changed by commercialization in ways, and by trying so hard to obtain more money. Moreover, higher education is seen as a budget area that, unlike other government services, can compensate for cuts in-state expenditures. A typical and not incorrect assumption is that public colleges and universities have sources of funds, especially students and the tuitions they pay, that are not available to other government services. This assumption makes higher education vulnerable to cuts during tough budgetary times, when policymakers tend to focus on solving short-term issues rather than on addressing long-term needs. Unfortunately, higher education, in particular, becoming out of reach for a common man, what to talk about a poor man. Everybody deserve to acquire appropriate knowledge. As a result, universities may compromise values that are vital to the continued assurance and loyalty of faculty, students, alumni, and even the general public if they try too hard to make money. Should universities agree that they are becoming business-driven?
Universities should be autonomous. They should develop autonomously, i.e. they should determine their own development directions. On the other hand, because a lot is changing in the environment of universities, among others, rapid technological progress, the economy is structurally changing, new types of business entities are emerging, social processes are progressing, climate change etc. so these changes also affect universities to a certain degree. Changes in the university environment motivate universities to undertake scientific research in new topics, new scientific disciplines are created, new fields of study, curricula within specific subjects are updated to the changing reality of social, cultural, economic, technological etc. Between universities and other there are many relationships, interactions, correlations etc. in the spheres, areas of civilization development. These relations should be flexible and effective. however, researchers, scientists and teachers employed in universities should coordinate the necessary changes, adaptations, undertaking new research works, updating curricula, etc. in the light of ongoing changes in the university environment.
Regards,
Dariusz Prokopowicz
I fully endorse the mantra that 'universities are not business'. However, in spite of much talked about 'autonomy' many universities are becoming 'business driven' for certain unconvincing reasons. This is particularly true for mushrooming of private universities which are more bothered to commercialize education rather than even paying appropriate salaries and facilities for their faculty.
Dear Colleagues,
Despite most previous responses, universities appeared as businesses -- guildes or cooperatives of specialists in law, medicine, theology, philosophy, mathematics and some free arts. They charged students for lectures (while disputes were free) and also a big business was around universities -- bookstores, rooms to rent, taverns, pubs, gambling clubs, brothels etc. The city of Leiden was offered once a choice between freedom from taxes and the right to establish a university.The city preferred to establish a university.
Humboldt and Napoleon decreased the level of commercialization presenting the model and the state financing of Grandes Ecoles which were copied in several countries.
In general, the current level of commercialization of universities is lower than in the 14th century (I am not talking about business schools). Free or almost free education exist in many countries, the problem is the share of the student population which receive education for free. The so-mentioned unavailability of universities for poor people is a fiction. Since 1970s most American universities face the problem with the middle class -- wealthy families easily afford tuition fees, poor students with good marks after the first trimester may pretend to stipends, but middle-class families are in the worst situation.
Mongolia enjoyed the Soviet system of absolutely free education at all levels, in addition, a large number of Mongolians were able to study in the USSR. With the end of the USSR developing a proper national system of higher education is indeed a challenge. However, for a country with the relatively small population and rich natural resources the political will to spend the government money on universities is the key. Kuwait and Oman now have good universities with no shortage of state-supported funds.
I agree that universiries can behave like business to a cwrtain extent snd they often have to, but scientific research should be independant, although sometimes it is not!
Due to cuts in state funding universities have to secure new sources of funding. At the same time, knowledge society implies tight collaboration between academia, state and business structures, which means more business-like processes within universities. If you are interested, take a look at my recent paper on leadership in academia.
University should give emphasis on teaching and education but many cases universities are places of business to sell degrees and somehow to earn more and more money.
https://www.quora.com/Do-you-think-universities-are-becoming-too-business-minded
https://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-university-business-20160602-snap-story.html
This Link Maybe Useful For You:
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/jan/06/public-universities-becoming-corporate-losing-social-purpose
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