2 - Neo-liberalism and the Subversion of Academic Freedom from Within: Money, Corporate Cultures and ‘Captured’ Intellectuals in African Public Universities
Corresponding Author(s) : Ibrahim Oanda Ogachi
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 9 No. 1-2 (2011): Journal of Higher Education in Africa: Special Issue on Academic Freedom in Africa
Abstract
In the last two decades, neo-liberal thinking and practices, as outcomes of globalization, have shaped social, economic, and educational policies. Within higher education institutions, the application of neo-liberal practices has increasingly reshaped the institutions into competitive markets and brought about the privatization of various aspects of institutional culture. In Africa, public universities were forced to adopt neo-liberal practices as part of the reform packages to address the financial crisis that the institutions faced in the 1980s. The deepening of neo-liberal cultures in the institutions has trans- formed traditional notions of the university as sites of knowledge genera- tion, service to society and liberal education, into neo-liberal objectives articulated in entrepreneurial terms with knowledge as a commodity to be invested in, bought and sold, and academics as entrepreneurs, who are evaluated based on the income they generate. This article analyses and reflects on what ‘entrepreneurialism’ in public universities in Africa means for the exercise of academic freedom and social responsibility.
Keywords
Download Citation
Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)BibTeX
- Akker, J., 2009, ‘Harnessing the Public and Private, Affirming Higher Education as a Public Responsibility on the point of “Insuring Academic Freedom in Public and Private partnership”’, The World Conference on Higher Education: ‘The New Dynamics of Higher Education and Research for Societal Change and Development’, UNESCO, Paris, 5-8 July.
- Altbach, P. G., 2004, ‘Globalization and the University: Myths and Realities in an Unequal World’, Tertiary Education Management, No 1.
- Apple, M., 1993, Official Knowledge: Democratic Education in a conservative age, New York and London, Routledge.
- Association of African Universities, 2004, ‘Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa with Specific Reference to Universities’, Accra, Ghana.
- Bjarnason, S. et al., 2009, A New Dynamic: Private Higher Education, UNESCO.
- Court, David, 1999, Financing Higher Education in Africa: Makerere University, the Quiet Revolution.
- Gibbon, P., Bangura, Y. and Ofstad, A., 1992, Authoritarianism, Democracy and Adjustment: the Politics of Economic Reform in Africa, Sweden, Nordiska Afrikainstitutet.
- Giroux, H. A., 2008/09, ‘Academic Unfreedom in America: Rethinking the University as a Democratic Public Sphere’, Works and Days, 51/52, 53/54: Vols. 26 & 27.
- Giroux, Henry A., 2004, The Terror of Neo-liberalism: The New Authoritarianism and the Eclipse of Democracy, Boulder.
- Guruz, K., 2003, ‘Higher Education in the Global Knowledge Economy’, Paper prepared for the CMU Assembly, Bari, Italy.
- Harbeson, J. W., 1994, ‘Political Transitions and Democratization in Africa’, The Carter Centre, pp. 144-154.
- Harvey, D., 2005, A Brief History of Neo-liberalism, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hersch, J. et al., 1983, The Academic Ethic: the Report of the Study Group of the International Council on the Future of the University, Chicago and London, University of Chicago Press.
- Jensen, J. D., 2004, ‘Accounting for Autonomy; how higher education lost its innocence’, 41st TB Davie Memorial Lecture, University of Cape Town.
- Kimani,http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/East+Africa+varsities+battling+a+crisis/-/2558/1193496/-/nba8pcz/-/index.html
- Kenya, Public Universities Inspection Board Report, 2006, ‘Transformation of higher edu- cation in Kenya: securing Kenya’s development in the knowledge economy’.
- Kiganda, C. R. M., 2009, ‘Governance Challenges of the 21st Century in the East African Universities’, Key Note speech for the Annual meeting of the IUCEA , Mombasa, Kenya, March.
- Kimani, M., ‘East Africa’s varsities battling a crisis’, http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/East+Africa+varsities+battling+a+crisis/-/2558/1193496/-/nba8pcz/-/index.html
- Kotz, D. M., 2002, ‘Globalization and Neo-liberalism’, Rethinking Marxism, Volume 12, Number 2, Summer, pp. 64-79.
- Liang, X., 2004, ‘Uganda Tertiary Education Sector Report’, Washington D.C, the World Bank, Human Development Sector.
- Makerere University, Administrative Staff Association, 2008, ‘Letter to university Council on Staff Remuneration in Makerere University’.
- Mama, A., 2006, ‘Towards Academic Freedom for Africa in the 21st Century’, JHEA, Boston College & CODESRIA, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 1-32.
- Mamdani, M., 1993, ‘Introduction: the Quest for Academic Freedom’, in Academic freedom in Africa, Mahmood Mmdani and Mamadou Diof, eds., Dakar, CODESRIA book series.
- Mamdani, M., 2007, Scholars in the Marketplace: the Dilemma of Neo-liberal Reform at Makerere University, 1989-2005, Dakar, CODESRIA.
- McClennen, S. A., 2008/09, ‘Neo-liberalism and the Crisis of Intellectual Engagement’, Works and Days, 51/52, 53/54: Vols. 26 & 27.
- Mkandawire, T. and Olukoshi, A., 1995, Between Liberalization and oppression: the Politics of Structural Adjustment in Africa, Dakar, CODESRIA Book Series.
- Oanda, I. O, Chege, F. and Wesonga D., 2008, Privatization and Private Higher Education in Kenya: implications for Access, Equity and Knowledge Production, Dakar, CODESRIA.
- Oanda, I. O., Ishumi, A., and Kaahwa, G., (on-going), ‘Corporatization Trends in Public Universities in East Africa: a comparative study of the Nature, Trends and Implica- tions’, A CODESRIA funded study under the ‘Higher Education Transformation in Africa’ Research Programme.
- Ogot, B., 2008, ‘Chancellor Ogot takes up fight against Tribalism in the Universities’, Daily Nation, 20 December 2008.
- Radhakrishnan, P. 2008, ‘Academic Freedom from a Human Rights’ Perspective: The Indian Case and its Relevance to Africa’, JHEA, Boston College & CODESRIA, Vol. 6, Nos. 2&3, pp.183-210.
- Republic of Tanzania, 2005, The Universities Act.
- Republic of Uganda, Ministry of Education and Sports, 2008, ‘Government White Paper on Report of the Visitation Committee to Public Universities in Uganda’.
- Sawyer, A., 2004, Challenges facing African Universities: Selected Issues, Association of African Universities, Accra, Ghana.
- UDSM [University of Dar es Salaam], 1994, ‘Corporate Strategic Plan’, University of Dar es Salaam (December).
- University of Dar es Salaam Academic Staff Assembly, UDASA, 2006, ‘Public statement on the proposed university charter and the recently announced top posts of university’.
- Varghese, N. V., 2004, Private Higher Education in Africa, UNESCO.
- World Bank, 1988, Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: policies for Revitalization and Expansion, Washington DC: The World Bank.
- World Bank, 2002, Constructing Knowledge Societies: New Challenges for Tertiary Education, Washington DC: The World Bank.
- Zeleza, P., 2003, ‘Academic Freedom in the Neo-Liberal Order: Governments, Globali- zation, Governance, and Gender’, JHEA, Boston College & CODESRIA, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 149-194.
References
Akker, J., 2009, ‘Harnessing the Public and Private, Affirming Higher Education as a Public Responsibility on the point of “Insuring Academic Freedom in Public and Private partnership”’, The World Conference on Higher Education: ‘The New Dynamics of Higher Education and Research for Societal Change and Development’, UNESCO, Paris, 5-8 July.
Altbach, P. G., 2004, ‘Globalization and the University: Myths and Realities in an Unequal World’, Tertiary Education Management, No 1.
Apple, M., 1993, Official Knowledge: Democratic Education in a conservative age, New York and London, Routledge.
Association of African Universities, 2004, ‘Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa with Specific Reference to Universities’, Accra, Ghana.
Bjarnason, S. et al., 2009, A New Dynamic: Private Higher Education, UNESCO.
Court, David, 1999, Financing Higher Education in Africa: Makerere University, the Quiet Revolution.
Gibbon, P., Bangura, Y. and Ofstad, A., 1992, Authoritarianism, Democracy and Adjustment: the Politics of Economic Reform in Africa, Sweden, Nordiska Afrikainstitutet.
Giroux, H. A., 2008/09, ‘Academic Unfreedom in America: Rethinking the University as a Democratic Public Sphere’, Works and Days, 51/52, 53/54: Vols. 26 & 27.
Giroux, Henry A., 2004, The Terror of Neo-liberalism: The New Authoritarianism and the Eclipse of Democracy, Boulder.
Guruz, K., 2003, ‘Higher Education in the Global Knowledge Economy’, Paper prepared for the CMU Assembly, Bari, Italy.
Harbeson, J. W., 1994, ‘Political Transitions and Democratization in Africa’, The Carter Centre, pp. 144-154.
Harvey, D., 2005, A Brief History of Neo-liberalism, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hersch, J. et al., 1983, The Academic Ethic: the Report of the Study Group of the International Council on the Future of the University, Chicago and London, University of Chicago Press.
Jensen, J. D., 2004, ‘Accounting for Autonomy; how higher education lost its innocence’, 41st TB Davie Memorial Lecture, University of Cape Town.
Kenya, Public Universities Inspection Board Report, 2006, ‘Transformation of higher edu- cation in Kenya: securing Kenya’s development in the knowledge economy’.
Kiganda, C. R. M., 2009, ‘Governance Challenges of the 21st Century in the East African Universities’, Key Note speech for the Annual meeting of the IUCEA , Mombasa, Kenya, March.
Kimani, M., ‘East Africa’s varsities battling a crisis’, http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/East+Africa+varsities+battling+a+crisis/-/2558/1193496/-/nba8pcz/-/index.html
Kotz, D. M., 2002, ‘Globalization and Neo-liberalism’, Rethinking Marxism, Volume 12, Number 2, Summer, pp. 64-79.
Liang, X., 2004, ‘Uganda Tertiary Education Sector Report’, Washington D.C, the World Bank, Human Development Sector.
Makerere University, Administrative Staff Association, 2008, ‘Letter to university Council on Staff Remuneration in Makerere University’.
Mama, A., 2006, ‘Towards Academic Freedom for Africa in the 21st Century’, JHEA, Boston College & CODESRIA, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 1-32.
Mamdani, M., 1993, ‘Introduction: the Quest for Academic Freedom’, in Academic freedom in Africa, Mahmood Mmdani and Mamadou Diof, eds., Dakar, CODESRIA book series.
Mamdani, M., 2007, Scholars in the Marketplace: the Dilemma of Neo-liberal Reform at Makerere University, 1989-2005, Dakar, CODESRIA.
McClennen, S. A., 2008/09, ‘Neo-liberalism and the Crisis of Intellectual Engagement’, Works and Days, 51/52, 53/54: Vols. 26 & 27.
Mkandawire, T. and Olukoshi, A., 1995, Between Liberalization and oppression: the Politics of Structural Adjustment in Africa, Dakar, CODESRIA Book Series.
Oanda, I. O, Chege, F. and Wesonga D., 2008, Privatization and Private Higher Education in Kenya: implications for Access, Equity and Knowledge Production, Dakar, CODESRIA.
Oanda, I. O., Ishumi, A., and Kaahwa, G., (on-going), ‘Corporatization Trends in Public Universities in East Africa: a comparative study of the Nature, Trends and Implica- tions’, A CODESRIA funded study under the ‘Higher Education Transformation in Africa’ Research Programme.
Ogot, B., 2008, ‘Chancellor Ogot takes up fight against Tribalism in the Universities’, Daily Nation, 20 December 2008.
Radhakrishnan, P. 2008, ‘Academic Freedom from a Human Rights’ Perspective: The Indian Case and its Relevance to Africa’, JHEA, Boston College & CODESRIA, Vol. 6, Nos. 2&3, pp.183-210.
Republic of Tanzania, 2005, The Universities Act.
Republic of Uganda, Ministry of Education and Sports, 2008, ‘Government White Paper on Report of the Visitation Committee to Public Universities in Uganda’.
Sawyer, A., 2004, Challenges facing African Universities: Selected Issues, Association of African Universities, Accra, Ghana.
UDSM [University of Dar es Salaam], 1994, ‘Corporate Strategic Plan’, University of Dar es Salaam (December).
University of Dar es Salaam Academic Staff Assembly, UDASA, 2006, ‘Public statement on the proposed university charter and the recently announced top posts of university’.
Varghese, N. V., 2004, Private Higher Education in Africa, UNESCO.
World Bank, 1988, Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: policies for Revitalization and Expansion, Washington DC: The World Bank.
World Bank, 2002, Constructing Knowledge Societies: New Challenges for Tertiary Education, Washington DC: The World Bank.
Zeleza, P., 2003, ‘Academic Freedom in the Neo-Liberal Order: Governments, Globali- zation, Governance, and Gender’, JHEA, Boston College & CODESRIA, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 149-194.