Higher Education research beyond the ivory tower

by Henry Mintzberg and Susan Mintzberg, University World News16 December 2023

The metaphor of the university as an ivory tower suggests a detached mode of looking-on, whether about doing research, disseminating findings, educating students, or administrating all this. In contrast is a model of the university as reaching-out, in these same four spheres.

Researching: Exploring Experience beyond Examining Evidence

Disseminating: Open Source beyond Closed Shop

Educating: Social Learning beyond Autonomous Teaching

Administrating: Fostering Communityship beyond Emphasizing Leadership

We conclude that the 21st-century university should be seeking a dynamic balance of these two modes—reaching-out while looking-on.

(Read the full article in UWN here)