#10 Bacchus reading group meeting

This month reading: Ronald Barnett (2005) Recapturing the Universal in the University, Educational Philosophy and Theory, 37:6, 785-797

• The role of “universalism” relates to the publics trust, and the ability to of the academics to retain their integrity in the face of different pressures pulling the academics/researchers into different directs

  • E.g. we maybe can trust an academic on the (financial) benefits of pharmatheutical industry university relationship

    • We may not be able to trust them when it comes to the adverse effects of the same pharmatheuticals

• The nature of “the problem” [prioritizing outcome over process, and impact over research] may have always existed.

  • However, due to the digital revolution and an increase in size of the universities in terms of student population

  • These are now pressing issues, in terms of how to interact with different, potentially contradicting, forms of knowledge

    • Barnett’s suggestion is that “spirit” or constitution of a teacher in how to interact with uncertainty is also important, in the face of supercomplexity

• The ad hoc social community interaction between researchers, is what both constitutes community AND also the source of inspiration for new ideas

  • In times of Covid, “water cooler” conversation and in general chance meetings between people have been reduced, and it is unclear as to what the consequences to that is

  • Such unsoclitated social activities, are also the essence of community, and without them no community is created

• Supercomplexity, seems to be a constant feature and how the university approaches and handles its relationship to it represents its raison de tre

  • A good question for any starting VC, would be:

    • “What are the epistemological/ontological consequences of your particular vision of the purpose/strategy of a university?” 

• University management, a key role to play

  • What is good university management?

    • Different types of “impact”, some long-shots, some sure things, some in the middle, and then the question becomes about what the ratios ought to be

• The intended “impact” of the research and reading activities of the Bacchus reading group are very humble and local, namely the continuation and prosperity of the University of Hull.

  • with these ambitions, comes a necessity to define what a university is AND what a well-managed and run university would look like

  • The arising “impact culture” is most likely generating negative aspects, and being aware of them is the first step in trying to prevent/address them.