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  • © 2018

The University in its Place

Social and Cultural Perspectives on the Regional Role of Universities

Authors:

  • Focuses on the ‘social’ and ‘cultural’ in a field which tends to be dominated by the ‘economic’
  • Addresses the issue of social disadvantage, of ‘winners’ and ‘losers’
  • Provides a strong empirical base
  • Applies a case study approach drawing out both regional and university diversities
  • Introduces empirical perspectives drawn both from within universities and from their key stakeholders
  • Shows the ‘UK case’ set within broader theoretical and international literatures

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-ix
  2. Contexts: Do Universities Make a Difference?

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Introduction: On Universities and Their ‘Places’

      • John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Yann Lebeau, Ruth Williams
      Pages 3-12
    3. Universities, Social Change and Transformation: Global Perspectives

      • John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Yann Lebeau, Ruth Williams
      Pages 13-31
    4. Universities in Their Contexts: Policy Drivers and History

      • John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Yann Lebeau, Ruth Williams
      Pages 33-57
  3. Making a Difference: To What and To Whom?

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 59-59
    2. Universities, Economic Development and Regeneration

      • John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Yann Lebeau, Ruth Williams
      Pages 61-74
    3. Image, Culture and the Drivers and Resistances to Change

      • John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Yann Lebeau, Ruth Williams
      Pages 75-86
    4. Universities, Community Engagement and the ‘Public Good’

      • John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Yann Lebeau, Ruth Williams
      Pages 87-103
    5. Universities and Social Disadvantage

      • John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Yann Lebeau, Ruth Williams
      Pages 105-123
  4. Conclusions and Implications: Making a Better Difference

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 125-125
    2. The Regional Role of Universities: Some Answered and Unanswered Questions

      • John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Yann Lebeau, Ruth Williams
      Pages 127-139
    3. Universities Making a Difference: Balancing the Global and the Local

      • John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Yann Lebeau, Ruth Williams
      Pages 141-149
  5. Back Matter

    Pages 151-154

About this book

This book sets out to understand the significance of geographical context – place – for universities in the globalised setting of the twenty-first century. It examines their social impact on the regions in which they are situated, both from the perspectives of the universities themselves and from the perspectives of a range of different local and regional interest groups. It draws on a national study in the UK which has examined the role played by universities in four contrasting regional contexts. This UK study will be set within the larger theoretical and international literature on the role played by universities in processes of social change and transformation. An important theme of the book is the effects of university activities on various socially disadvantaged groups and consideration is given to whether there are ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ arising from the activities and interventions of universities. The book distinguishes between ‘discourses’, ‘activities’ and their ‘impacts’in considering the role of universities and emphasises the importance of history and context as important mediators of national and institutional policies. It examines some of the key partnerships which universities enter into within their regions and considers some of the factors which determine the nature of these partnerships. Implications are drawn out for university leaderships and for regional and national policy bodies.

The book provides empirical evidence in a field marked by a considerable amount of rhetoric from interested parties. One of the book’s conclusions is that there is considerable diversity among higher education institutions in how they perform a regional role, but it is a significant question for each of them. Institutional variation and regional setting come together to shape what is achievable.

Authors and Affiliations

  • The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

    John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Ruth Williams

  • School of Education and Lifelong Learning, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom

    Yann Lebeau

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The University in its Place

  • Book Subtitle: Social and Cultural Perspectives on the Regional Role of Universities

  • Authors: John Brennan, Allan Cochrane, Yann Lebeau, Ruth Williams

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1296-3

  • Publisher: Springer Dordrecht

  • eBook Packages: Education, Education (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature 2018

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-94-024-1294-9Published: 08 March 2018

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-94-024-1645-9Published: 30 January 2019

  • eBook ISBN: 978-94-024-1296-3Published: 27 February 2018

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: IX, 154

  • Topics: Higher Education, Regional and Cultural Studies, Educational Policy and Politics, Regional/Spatial Science

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access