Knowledge society and academic profession in Argentina: between public policies and academic practices

MARQUINA, MÓNICA; OBEIDE, SERGIO

Aveiro

Seminario; Academic Profession in Knowledge Based Society: The Project Conceptual and Methodological Definition; 2015

This paper makes an approach to the study of Academic Profession in Argentina in the so called Knowledge Society. From this conceptualization that provides new ways to produce and linking knowledge with social needs, we aim to provide an overview on Argentine public policies of the last decade aimed in that direction, and the practices of scholars in their research and transfer. To do this, after tracing an overview of the context of reforms of the higher education system in Argentina, recent policies linked with an orientation towards the knowledge society are analyzed, among others, financing incentives through government programs for technology linkages, development of priority programs, scholarships to students in certain disciplines, research grants in priority subjects and promotion of doctorates. In this context, then, the perceptions of academics regarding their activity are discussed, in ways that could be linked to the new concepts of relating to knowledge, whether in their relationships with their environment through technology transfer, changes in the curriculum or applicability of research. To do this, the survey results of CAP 2008 are used. We do not find a relation between the academic activity and the public policies to encourage the production and transfer of knowledge closely related to economic growth and social development. In Argentine case the academic activities seem to be rooted to a humboldtian vision, and interests of researchers are more based on academic motivations than social impact. This broad conclusion varies among disciplines. Finally, we draw some hypotheses about these results, in order to present a more focused inquiry into these matters, and to consider the specificities of countries like Argentina.