University Governance: From Academic Republics to State Agencies and Subcontractors
Photo: Valeriy Voennyy/Mostphotos
The purpose of this project is to provide a new frame for the public and policy discussion of the purpose and governance of universities. Faculty in Sweden, Denmark, and the US, as elsewhere, have passed from being university “members” to employees, both in operation and self-conception. This reflects a shift in the governance of universities—from collegially-governed, autonomous institutions to centrally-governed and government-steered institutions. We will provide the a complete account of the institutional and ideational steps involved for this transformation over time.
Details
- Period: 2026-01-01 – 2029-12-31
- Budget: 5,198,000 SEK
- Funder: Swedish Research Council
Description
Reserach project leader Shirin Ahlbäck Öberg says:
The project is important because it highlights how university governance has changed from collegial and self-governing “academic republics” to more hierarchical and externally controlled organisations—a development that affects both academic freedom and the quality of research and education.
By placing today’s NPM reforms in a long historical perspective, the project can explain why this transformation has taken place and which governance models have circulated between companies, the state, and universities over time. This gives us new tools to understand how the logic of governance sometimes conflicts with the aims of universities, such as knowledge production and critical thinking.
The project also contributes to identifying alternative forms of governance—especially “purpose governance”—that can strengthen collegiality and the quality of operations. To safeguard the democratic and socially supportive role of universities, we need to understand these historical processes and their consequences.