From Ivory Tower to Academic Commitment and Leadership: The Changing Public Mission of Universities

How is the public mission of universities to change in the face of today’s global challenges? How is the 21st Century university to balance its long-standing traditions and its commitment to teaching, research and commercialization with rapidly changing social needs and conditions worldwide? And how does the newly defined public role of the university reflect on changes to non-profit organizations in general? Amalya Oliver-Lumerman and Gili S. Drori offer a new model of academic commitment and leadership in response to questions about the new public role of the university. Combining historical and sociological analysis with examples and proposals for academic commitment and leadership, the book reconsiders the social impact of universities and, by extension, public organizations. It offers detailed examples for Academic Leadership and Responsibility (ACL) programs and related projects, contributing to higher education policy-making and discussions around university governance. In exploring the changing public mission of universities, the book also highlights models of social responsibility and leadership that are appropriate for universities, and discusses the translation of CSR to a non-profit public organization. This will be an invigorating read for higher education and organization studies scholars, as it engages with current debates about the future of university models and public sector organisational forms.

Table of Contents:
Contents: 1. Introduction: academic commitment and leadership as a model for the 21st-century university 2. Public mission of universities: from ontology, to terminology, to strategy 3. The shaping of contemporary models for the university’s public role: from CSR to ACL 4. Academic commitment and leaderships: types and examples 5. The Hoffman Leadership and Responsibility Programme at the Hebrew University: exemplar ACL community of practice within a university 6. ACL projects in an ACL-inspired programme: examples from the Hoffman programme 7. Concluding comments and reflections: new opportunities for university–society relations Bibliography Index

About the Author :
Amalya Oliver-Lumerman and Gili S. Drori, Professors, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Review :
’This stimulating volume positions social engagement as the fourth mission of the university and calls for a “bottom-up” approach to responsibility for the public good. Arguing for a new model of engagement based on academic commitment and leadership, this book makes an enormous contribution to our understanding of social responsibility, both for academics and academic institutions.’ ’This book is a valuable and timely contribution of two eminent scholars of organizations and their interface with society to the debates and concerns about the evolving role of universities in modern society. The authors produced a comprehensive analysis of this development with thought provoking assessment of future directions. Highly recommended.’ ’The effects of social interests on the university are often criticized -- the impact of the university on society less so (though populists try). The authors impressively celebrate university effects in creating immediate social change, with striking concrete examples. They see the university as leading, not only following, modern social patterns.’