From Ivory Tower to Academic Commitment and Leadership

The Changing Public Mission of Universities

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

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.

‘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.’
– Glen A. Jones, University of Toronto, Canada

‘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.’
– Hanoch Gutfreund, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

对大学的社会利益的影响versity 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.’
– John W. Meyer, Stanford University, US