Some error occured while loading the Quick View. Please close the Quick View and try reloading the page.
Available open access digitally under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.
Academic freedom is widely recognized as a cornerstone of higher education, yet its counterpart, academic responsibility, has received remarkably little attention.
This timely book addresses that gap by presenting academic responsibility as a voluntary commitment to apply academic expertise to society's most pressing challenges. Tracing the evolution of higher education's mission through ideas such as engagement, impact, social responsibility and decolonization, Brink develops a compelling conceptual framework that places academic responsibility alongside academic freedom.
Essential reading for academics, university leaders and policymakers, this book offers a fresh perspective on what universities owe society and why that question matters more than ever.
'Universities have never been more necessary or more challenged. Serious times require profound analysis and considered solutions. Brink delivers both.' Sir David Eastwood, INTO University Partnerships
'Provides fresh conceptual framework about academic responsibility and academic freedom. Brilliant combination of theory and practical vision.' Robert Hollister, Tufts University
'An utterly compelling read for anyone interested in the true purpose and future sustainability of universities. The timing couldn’t be better.' Nina Overton-de Klerk, University of Johannesburg
'This is a highly topical book on academic self-insight. It presents a compelling argument to restore the balance between excellence and commitment.' Sijbolt Noorda, University of Amsterdam.
'An essential, timely redefinition of higher education, challenging universities to prove not just what they're good at, but good for.' Giga Zedania, Former Rector, Ilia State University
'After reading this book, I decided to buy it for my entire leadership team, including Deans.' Sibonglile Muthwa, Vice-Chancellor, Nelson Mandela University
Part I: The Changing Mission of Higher Education
1. The Magna Charta Universitatum
2. The Idea of Engagement
3. The Idea of Responsiveness
4. The Idea of Impact
5. The Idea of University Social Responsibility
6. The Idea of Decolonization
Part II: Conceptual Framework
7. On Purpose
8. On Individuals and Collectives
9. On Freedom and Rights
10. On Duality
11. On Freedom and Responsibility
Part III: Advocacy
12. The Idea of Academic Freedom
13. The Orthodoxies of Academia
14. The Idea of Academic Responsibility
15. Arguments Contra and Pro
Conclusion