Academic capitalism and the entrepreneurial university: some perspectives from the Americas

Patrícia Somers; Cory Davis; Jessica Fry; Lisa Jasinski; Elida Lee

doi:10.18593/r.v43i1.13088

Authors

Patrícia Somers University of Texas at Austin
Cory Davis University of Texas at Austin
Jessica Fry University of Texas at Austin
Lisa Jasinski University of Texas at Austin https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8031-4605
Elida Lee University of Texas at Austin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18593/r.v43i1.13088

Keywords:

Academic capitalism, Entrepreneurial universities, Higher education

Abstract

Since the Worldwide Financial Crisis of 2008, higher education institutions around the world have been forced to change their financial practices to focus on the bottom line. One such approach is academic capitalism, the heart of which is the entrepreneurial university which views faculty members as producers of capital (not educators), students as consumers (not learners), and business/industry, accreditors, and NGOs as valued business partners. This article defines academic capitalism, reviews the research literature, presents perspectives of academic capitalism in the Americas and discusses the implications of academic capitalism for Latin America. The article ends using anthropophagi to assess what is useful about academic capitalism for Brazil.

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Author Biographies

Patrícia Somers, University of Texas at Austin

É professora associada no Departamento de Administração Educacional da Universidade do Texas em Austin – USA. É afiliada de faculdade em Estudos de Mulheres e de Gênero e o Long Lozano Latin American Studies programa. Possui vasta experiência internacional - como um Fulbright Fellow na Alemanha e Tailândia, um Malone Fellow e um King Fahd Center Fellow no Oriente Médio, um Fulbright New Century Scholar no Brasil, e como pesquisadora de campo em linguística. Atualmente é vice-presidente regional da Associação Americana de Professores Universitários da Texas Association. Possui mais de 60 publicações e tem supervisionado 30 dissertações. Suas áreas de pesquisa incluem: estudantes de faculdades de dois e quatro anos, escolha de faculdade, direito do ensino superior (especialmente liberdade de expressão e liberdade acadêmica) e ensino superior no Brasil.

Cory Davis, University of Texas at Austin

Doutora em Filosofia (Ph.D.), Educação Superior / Administração de Educação Superior. Mestre em Artes (MA), Estudos Internacionais / Global. Especialista em Subsídios e Contratos Sênior.

Jessica Fry, University of Texas at Austin

Ph.D. Estudante em Educação Superior. Assistente de pesquisa na Universidade do Texas em Austin. Doutor em Filosofia (Ph.D.) Área de estudo Administração Educacional com período previsto para a graduação 2016 – 2020. Atividades e grupos: Projetos de Assistência de Pesquisa incluem: campus carry, políticas de ação afirmativa global, capitalismo acadêmico Dean's Scholar.

Lisa Jasinski, University of Texas at Austin

Doutoranda no Programa de Liderança em Ensino Superior (PHEL), que tem uma concentração em Administração de Ensino Superior. Assistente Especial do Vice-Presidente de Assuntos Acadêmicos da Universidade Trinity. Universidade de Texas em Austin.

Elida Lee, University of Texas at Austin

Diretora de Eficácia da Organização na Universidade do Texas em Austin. Masters of Education, and Curriculum and Instruction (University of Texas at Austin). Doctora of Education (Ed.D.) and Higher Education Administration (University of Texas at Austin).

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