The Culture of Business Education and Its Place in the Modern University - Volume 45 - Issue 4 - 2015 paper

Oct 15, 2026

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Many researchers argue the modern university is in an unprecedented crisis, driven in part by its growing resemblance to a transnational corporation rather than a traditional scholarly institution. This paper defines “university” through a classical lens and examines how vocational goals have gradually entered its scope, focusing on North American models. It asks whether business schools should operate within academia, discusses an alternative centered on business’s vocational attributes, and proposes how interdepartmental tension can be reduced.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Defining the university and classical perspective

Vocationalization and the role of business schools

Theory-practice tension in education

CSSHE SCÉES Canadian Journal of Higher Education Revue canadienne d’enseignement supérieur Volume 45, No. 4, 2015, pages 229-243 The Culture of Business Education and Its Place in the Modern University Russell A. Evans Queen’s University Abstract Many researchers believe that the modern university is in a state of crisis like never before. One of the main reasons cited for this decline is that the modern university has a closer resemblance to a transnational corporation than to a traditional scholarly institution (Lewis, 2005) . This paper attempts to define the term “university” from a classical perspective and to describe the gradual incorporation of vocational pursuits into its scope. Focusing on modern North American university models, it asks whether business schools, in particular, should be operating within academia. An alternative is discussed, which focuses on the vocational attributes of business rather than theoretical knowledge. I draw on secondary sources as well as my own personal experience as a student and researcher to make suggestions on how interdepartmental tension developed and how it can be reduced. The paper finds that the business school does have a place in the modern university; however, the classical representation of the university must be abandoned for it to be fully embraced. Résumé Denombreux chercheurscroient quel’université modernen’ajamaisvécu unecrise si grave. Une des principales raisons citées pour expliquer cette baisse est que l’université moderne ressemble plus à une entreprise transnationale qu’à un établissement d’enseignement scientifique traditionnel (Lewis, 2005) . Le présent article tente de définir le terme « université » selon une perspective classique, et de décrire ce qu’est l’intégration progressive d’une carrière professionnelle dans son champ d’application. Se concentrant sur les modèles universitaires modernes en Amérique du Nord, on demande si les écoles commerciales, en particulier, devraient fonctionner en milieu universitaire. CJHE / RCES Volume 45, No. 4, 2015 Business Schools in Universities / R. Evans 230 On discute d’une alternative qui mise sur les attributs professionnels du commerce plutôt que sur les connaissances théoriques. Nous tirerons partides sources secondaires aussi bien que de ma propre expérience en tant qu’étudiant et chercheur pour apporter des suggestions sur la façon dont la tension interdépartementale s’est créée et les moyens de la réduire. Notre recherche constate quel’école de commerce a bien une place dans l’université moderne, cependant, afin que cette place soit pleinement assumée, il est nécessaired’abandonner lareprésentation classique del’université engénéral. Introduction According to many scholars, universities are in a state of crisis unlike any seen in the past (Pelikan, 1992; Readings, 1996; Emberley, 1997) . Government cutbacks, striking staff, research falsification, and administrative blunders have all pointed to a bleak future for the university model (Emberley, 1997). Emberley believes that the university is under siege from both the “corporate right” and the “cultural left,” which collectively threaten to unhinge the university from its historical development. Others believe the modern university has a closer resemblance to transnational corporations than to the traditional and classical images of a scholarly institution (Lewis, 2005) . The traditional university, envisioned centuries ago by the scholar Wilhelm von Humboldt, was a place where research would be conducted independently of social and political interests, but it now seems to have been buried by a sea of strategic objectives and operational goals (Bahti, 1992) . Universities have become more vocational over the past century, due to the demand for, and subsequent proliferation of, professional schools. These include the schools of medicine, law, engineering, and business. The business school is particularly interesting because it has the m

FAQs

What crisis does the paper describe in modern universities?

The paper presents a view that many researchers believe modern universities face an identity and operational crisis unlike in the past. It links this decline to universities taking on characteristics similar to transnational corporations.

How does the paper define the term “university”?

It defines “university” from a classical perspective, emphasizing research and inquiry as independent pursuits for advancing knowledge. It contrasts this classical representation with the university’s evolving vocational scope.

Should business schools operate within academia, according to the paper?

The paper concludes that business schools do have a place in the modern university. However, it argues that the classical representation of the university must be abandoned to fully embrace that role.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Muffet