The Differentiated Market-University. Structural differences among university?s commodification processes

CECILIA RIKAP

Theory and Method in Higher Education Research.

Emerald

Año: 2017; p. 179 - 196

In this chapter we analyze universities? present context of commodification by suggesting a typology of market universities based on Levín?s (1997) three types of capital enterprises. Our typology is integrated by the Simple Purpose, the Technological and the Enhanced University. The Simple Purpose University is mainly commodifying teaching. On the contrary, the Technological and the Enhanced Universities, even if they may also commodify teaching, are focused on research?s commodification. The main difference between the Technological and the Enhanced Universities is the capacity of the latter to enjoy the profits of its commodified research activity, while the former exchanges research results and sells its research capacity in a subordinated way, losing (at least part of) those benefits. These three proposed types also differ regarding financial autonomy and academic freedom.