Ver$go: Time and Space in the Contemporary University Susan L. Robertson University of Bristol Presenta?on to Power, Accelera?on and Metrics in Academic Life 2 nd 4 th December, 2015, Ins?tute of Philosophy, Prague
Susan L. Robertson, Power, Accelera?on and Metrics in Academic Life
Internal Memo 2014
Internal Memo 2014
How might we understand these spa?al and temporal movements and their social, poli?cal and visceral effects on the na?on, ins?tu?on, individuals and families?
Old and newer histories Since 1980s, guides been developed, many by the publishing industry, to promote best buy - including Macleans, Universi?es Guide 2003 Shanghai Jiao Tong developed ranking to emulate US system within China Followed by THE- QS (2004), Leiden, CHE, Economist Intelligence Unit, TimesHigher, QS, U- Mul?rank. Prolifera?on of products from regional rankings to reputa?ons, best under 50 s
Movements notes Much of work on world university rankings tends to focus a`en?on on its governmentality - that is governing (popula?ons) by numbers and ordering ins?tu?onal iden??es through reputa?on. Other work focuses on scopic systems (Knorr Cer?na) examining that ways in which complex social life is represented in indexes. There do not spend sufficient a`en?on paid to the ways in which mobility/movements in space itself (out, down, up) - are both complex modali?es of power and are invoked in the restructuring and reordering of social lives and rela?ons in global, regional, local and ins?tu?onal educa?on spaces.
Mobili?es Paradigm Take 1: movements outward An element of world university rankings is the inclusion of the number of interna?onal students studying in the university Interna?onal collabora?ons amongst academics are regarded as driving up global cita?on data. Universi?es buy global stars
A deadly serious game.. compe??on in the global knowledge economy
Mobili?es Paradigm Take2: movements upward
Mobili?es Paradigm Take3: movements downward Ver?go the world is moving either around you, or in your head
Movements moments, moods concluding thoughts We can see movement itself having real effects on ins?tu?ons discourses, their strategies, sense of iden?ty, and personal/ professional lives. Extension outward, connec?ons create the possibility also for movement upward Eleva?on and movement upward brings also the fear of a loss of height Loss of height, falling, ver?go increase the levels of anxiety in both the ins?tu?on and its professionals about what this means for its fortunes and future.
The global higher educa?on landscape is changing and Times Higher Educa?on (THE) is evolving too. We are harnessing data at both the global and local level to enable meaningful measurement, insight and benchmarking of ins?tu?onal performance through the World University Rankings and THE Data; by providing the most respected news and analysis of global higher educa?on issues and trends in the THE; and by facilita?ng discussion, engagement and networking among those leading and working in universi?es at our summits. We also help make crucial matches between ins?tu?ons, faculty and senior leaders through our Unijobs and THE jobs boards. Through THE Student we now offer advice, guides to universi?es, news and other decision- making tools to help equip students around the world for the next stage of their educa?onal journey. h`p://www.tesglobal.com/content/about- tes- global accessed 29 November 2015