
The Good University
What Universities Actually Do and Why It's Time for Radical Change
Raewyn Connell(Author)
Bloomsbury Academic (Publisher)
Published on 11. August 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-350-35983-3 (ISBN)
Description
The higher education industry might seem like it's booming, with over 200 million students in universities and colleges worldwide and funds flowing in like never before. But the truth is that these institutions have never been unhappier places to work. Corporate-style management, cost-cutting governments, mobilisations by angry students and strikes by a disgruntled workforce have taken their toll - in almost every country around the world. It's no wonder that there is talk of 'universities in crisis.'
But what should a 'good university' look like? In this inspiring new work, Raewyn Connell asks us to consider just that, challenging us to rethink the fundamentals of what universities do. Drawing on the examples offered by pioneering universities and educational reformers around the world, Connell outlines a practical vision for how our universities can become both more engaging and more productive places, driven by social good rather than profit, helping to build fairer societies.
But what should a 'good university' look like? In this inspiring new work, Raewyn Connell asks us to consider just that, challenging us to rethink the fundamentals of what universities do. Drawing on the examples offered by pioneering universities and educational reformers around the world, Connell outlines a practical vision for how our universities can become both more engaging and more productive places, driven by social good rather than profit, helping to build fairer societies.
Reviews / Votes
In The Good University Raewyn Connell provides a powerful and expansive critique of the current state of higher education. This lucid and important book makes clear that the global state of higher education is at a crossroads. * LSE Review of Books * A uniquely revealing global account of the actual work done by university workers, and a searing critique of the false promises made by current ideologies. A must read for those interested in progressive university reform. * D.W. Livingstone, author of The Education-Jobs Gap * Raewyn Connell's case for the good university will resonate with the people who do the work to make good education and research happen, who care about the students and their colleagues and know their responsibility to the public who rightly expect so much of our universities. Her good university values the labour of all staff with decent, secure jobs. * Jeannie Rea, National Tertiary Education Union * One victim of Western modernity and corporate ambition is the university. Raewyn Connell convincingly demonstrates what many are sensing and others are ignoring: that knowledge for peace and joy is being overruled by competing knowledges of war and death. * Walter Mignolo, Duke University *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 142 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
292 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-35983-3 (9781350359833)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition

Raewyn Connell
The Good University
What Universities Actually Do and Why It's Time for Radical Change
Book
02/2019
Zed Books Ltd
€36.08
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Raewyn Connell is Professor Emerita at the University of Sydney. She is a highly-cited researcher in social science and an experienced teacher who has worked in universities around the world. She remains an active trade unionist and advocate for workers' rights, student autonomy and educational reform. Her books include Masculinities (2005), Southern Theory (2007) and Gender: In World Perspective (2015).
Content
Introduction
1. Making the Knowledge: Research
Being a researcher
The work of research
The knowledge formation
Research and truth
2. Learning and Teaching
The work of learning
The course being run
The work of teaching
3. The Collective Intellectual: University Workers
Intellectuals
Operations workers
Academic workers
Sustainability crisis
4. The Global Economy of Knowledge
Imperial science
Making a world university system
Making a worldwide workforce
Multiple knowledge formations and Southern theory
5. Privilege Machines
The dark side of the university
Making advantage happen
Breaching the walls
Machine limits
6. The University Business
The maelstrom
What enterprise universities sell
The managers
Telling lies about universities
Maelstrom reconsidered
7. Universities of Hope
Histories of invention
Contemporaries
Struggle and joy: lessons of experience
8. The Good University
The choice of futures
Criteria for a good university...
...and a good university system
Manifestos and visions
Taking action
1. Making the Knowledge: Research
Being a researcher
The work of research
The knowledge formation
Research and truth
2. Learning and Teaching
The work of learning
The course being run
The work of teaching
3. The Collective Intellectual: University Workers
Intellectuals
Operations workers
Academic workers
Sustainability crisis
4. The Global Economy of Knowledge
Imperial science
Making a world university system
Making a worldwide workforce
Multiple knowledge formations and Southern theory
5. Privilege Machines
The dark side of the university
Making advantage happen
Breaching the walls
Machine limits
6. The University Business
The maelstrom
What enterprise universities sell
The managers
Telling lies about universities
Maelstrom reconsidered
7. Universities of Hope
Histories of invention
Contemporaries
Struggle and joy: lessons of experience
8. The Good University
The choice of futures
Criteria for a good university...
...and a good university system
Manifestos and visions
Taking action