Skip to main content
Log in

The Networked University: The structure, culture, and policy of universities in a changing environment

  • Published:
Tertiary Education and Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The universities in Europe are finding themselves in a turbulent environment. They are exposed to global and European developments. This article links changes in the structure, culture, and policy of universities to these developments and changes in the broader-than-national environment. The central question is, in short: what is globalisation doing to universities? It is often feared or expected that globalisation leads to more uniformity and homogenisation. On the basis of case studies, this hypothesis is critically assessed. The model of change in universities turns out to be local variations on global and European themes and developments. This model can be called “the Networked University.”

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amaral, A., Fulton, O., & Larsen, I. M. (2003). A managerial revolution? In A. Amaral, V. Lynn Meek, & I. M. Larsen (Eds.), The higher education managerial revolution? (pp. 275–296). Dordrecht/Boston/London: Kluwer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Beck, U. (1997). Was ist globalisierung? Irrtümer des Globalismus—Antworten auf Globalisierung. Frankurt am Main: Suhrkamp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, U. (2001). World risk society. Malden, MA: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castells, M. (1996). The rise of the network society. The information age (Vol. 1). Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castells, M. (1997). The power of identity. The information age (Vol. 2). Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castells, M. (1998). End of millennium. The information age (Vol. 3). Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castells, M. (2000). Materials for an exploratory theory of the network society. British Journal of Sociology, 51(1), 5–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, B. R. (1998). Creating entrepreneurial universities. Organizational pathways of transformation. Oxford: Pergamon/IAU Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, B. R. (2004). Delineating the character of the entrepreneurial university. Higher Education Policy, 17(4), 355–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Currie, J., DeAngelis, R., de Boer, H., Huisman, J., & Lacotte, C. (2003). Globalizing practices and university responses: European and Anglo-American differences. Westport, CT: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Boer, H. (2003). Institutionele verandering en professionele autonomie. Enschede: CHEPS/UT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denzin, N. K. (1978). The research act. A theoretical introduction to sociological methods. New York: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Wit, K. (2003). The consequences of European integration for higher education. Higher Education Policy, 16(2), 161–178.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Wit, K. (2006, August 30–September 1). How universities perceive and manage globalisation and Europeanisation. Paper presented at the 28th annual EAIR Forum, Rome, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Wit, K. (2008). Universiteiten in Europa in de 21e eeuw. Netwerken in een samenleving in verandering. Gent: Academia Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dill, D. D. (1997). Effects of competition on diverse institutional contexts. In M. W. Peterson, D. D. Dill, & L. A. Mets (Eds.), Planning and management for a changing environment: A handbook on redesigning postsecondary institutions (pp. 88–105). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dill, D. D., & Sporn, B. (1995). University 2001: What will the university of the twenty-first century look like? In D. D. Dill & B. Sporn (Eds.), Emerging patterns of social demand and university reform: Through a glass darkly (pp. 212–236). Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Enders, J., & Fulton, O. (2002). Blurring boundaries and blistering institutions: An introduction. In J. Enders & O. Fulton (Eds.), Higher education in a globalising world (pp. 1–14). Dordrecht/Boston/London: Kluwer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Feagin, J. R., Orum, A. M., & Sjoberg, G. (1991). A case for the case study. Chapel Hill/London: University of North Carolina Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giddens, A. (2000). Runaway world: How globalization is reshaping our lives. London: Profile Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gornitzka, A., & Maassen, P. (2006). Europese universiteiten tussen markt en overheid. In K. De Wit, L. Dom, C. Gijselinckx, J. Peeraer, & K. Stassen (Eds.), Onderwijs en samenleving. Thema’s in het werk van J.C. Verhoeven (pp. 99–117). Leuven: Acco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, J. F. (1994). Case studies in organizational research. In C. Cassell & G. Symon (Eds.), Qualitative methods in organizational research. A practical guide (pp. 208–229). London/Thousand Oaks/New Delhi: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hooghe, L., & Marks, G. (2001). Multi-level governance and European integration. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huisman, J., & van der Wende, M. (2004). The EU and Bologna: Are supra- and international initiatives threatening domestic agendas?, European Journal of Education, 39(3), 349–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maassen, P. (1996). Governmental steering and the academic culture. Utrecht: De Tijdstroom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meek, V. L. (2002). Changing patterns in modes of co-ordination of higher education. In J. Enders & O. Fulton (Eds.), Higher education in a globalising world (pp. 53–71). Dordrecht/Boston/London: Kluwer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Moravcsik, A. (1998). The choice for Europe: Social purpose and state power from Messina to Maastricht. New York/London/Ithaca: Cornell University Press/UCL Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neave, G. (2001). The European dimension in higher education: An excursion into the modern use of historical analogues. In J. Huisman & P. Maassen (Eds.), Higher education and the nation state (pp. 13–73). Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neave, G., & van Vught, F. (Eds.). (1991). Prometheus bound: The changing relationship between government and higher education in Western Europe. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, W. W. (1990). Neither market nor hierarchy: Network forms of organization. Research in Organizational Behaviour, 12, 295–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sporn, B. (1999). Adaptive university structures. An analysis of adaptation to socioeconomic environments of US and European universities. London: Jessica Kingsley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stake, R. E. (1994). Case studies. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 236–272). Thousand Oaks/London/New Delhi: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1994). Grounded theory methodology. An overview. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (pp. 273–285). Thousand Oaks/London/New Delhi: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stromquist, N. (2002). Education in a globalized world. The connectivity of economic power, technology, and knowledge. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thys-Clément, F., & Wilkin, L. (1998). Strategic management and universities: Outcome of a European survey. Higher Education Management, 10(1), 13–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaira, M. (2004). Globalisation and higher education organizational change: A framework for analysis. Higher Education, 48(4), 483–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, G. (Ed.). (2003). The enterprising university: Reform, excellence and equity. Buckingham: Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Witte, J. (2006). Change of degrees and degrees of change: Comparing adaptations of European higher education systems in the context of the Bologna process. Enschede: CHEPS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin, R. K. (1994). Case study research. Design and methods. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kurt de Wit.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Wit, K. The Networked University: The structure, culture, and policy of universities in a changing environment. Tert Educ Manag 16, 1–14 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1080/13583880903335464

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13583880903335464

Navigation