The Enterprise University
Power, Governance and Reinvention in Australia

This 2001 book studies the organisational systems and culture of Australia's universities.

Simon Marginson (Author), Mark Considine (Author)

9780521794480, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 1 October 2000

288 pages, 1 b/w illus. 24 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.43 kg

'The real value of reading this book lies in its dual capacity to offer not only a close analysis of current executive, institutional and research power in university governance in those institutions studied, but also a global post-mortem, so to speak, of how universities have come to a state where their roles have become worrying unstable and their identities fragile, usefully elaborating the history of higher education in Australia as a specific case in point … There are many who would find this book of value. From the point of view of relevance, any professional who works in a university, or has governance within or of a university, would find it illuminating, as would too our political leaders I suspect. A further and final pleasure to note is the elegance, and sometimes wit, with which this book is written.' Higher Education

Throughout the industrialised world, universities have undergone remarkable changes since the mid-1980s. In Australia, interest has been intense, and publication of The Enterprise University was very timely. First published in 2001, it was the first systematic study of the Australian system since the momentous Dawkins reforms ten years earlier. The book is grounded in case studies of most of the major Australian universities: the authors interviewed a large number of senior managers. They also have taken account of global trends and have prepared the book in the light of international research on the university as an institution. The authors contend that the modern university can be understood as an 'enterprise university', characterised by corporate-style executive leadership. In a hard-hitting conclusion they propose novel policies and directions for Australia's higher education system.

1. Introduction
2. Roots of the enterprise university (1): from policy to governance
3. Roots of enterprise university (2): from academy to global business
4. Territories and strategies: executive power in the enterprise university
5. College and corporation: institutional power in the enterprise university
6. Economics of invention: research power in the enterprise university
7. Many paths, one purpose: diversity in the enterprise university
8. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Education [JN]