The Pursuit of Possibility

Redesigning Research Universities

Nigel Thrift (University of Oxford)

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English

Policy Press
01 November 2022

Moral & social purpose of education; Educational strategies & policy; Universities

Are British research universities losing their way or are they finding a new way?

Nigel Thrift, a well-known academic and a former Vice-Chancellor, explores recent changes in the British research university that threaten to erode the quality of these higher education institutions. He considers what a research university has now become by examining the quandaries that have arisen from a succession of misplaced strategies and false expectations.

Challenging both higher education policy and leadership, he argues that the focus on student number growth and a series of research policy missteps has upset research universities’ priorities just at a point in the history of planetary breakdown when their research is most needed.

By: Nigel Thrift (University of Oxford)
Imprint: Policy Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781447364849
ISBN 10: 1447364848
Pages: 314
Publication Date: 01 November 2022
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

1: Is that a ‘university’? I’m not sure Part I: The research university 2: So what is a ‘university’? Part 1: Architecture and academics 3: So what is a ‘university’? Part 2: Students, parents and other constituencies Part II: The contemporary British university system 4: A new Robbins? Recent changes in British universities 5: The hardy perennials 6: The Australianisation of British higher education 7: On vice- chancelloring – a footnote Part III: The research university of the future 8: So what is a research university? 9: Redesigning the research university

Professor Nigel Thrift is currently Chair of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management. Previously he was Executive Director of Schwarzman Scholars. Before that he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at the University of Oxford. He is Visiting Professor in the School of Geography and the Environment at the University of Oxford and Emeritus Professor at the University of Bristol. His research spans international finance; cities in their many manifestations; non-representational theory; affective politics; and the history of timekeeping.

Reviews for The Pursuit of Possibility: Redesigning Research Universities

"""A compelling read for anyone who cares about the future of our universities. Thrift outlines a distinctive vision for the future of British research universities, arguing for a recasting of their operation to ensure that they remain intellectual lighthouses at a time when their research is needed more than ever to secure a future for our planet."" Judith Squires, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, University of Bristol ""Research universities matter! Thrift provides an unashamed, insightful and personal defence. In doing so he raises existential questions about their future, and argues for their purpose and survival. Expect to be provoked and want to argue back. An essential read for those who value research and its vital contribution to our future."" Ken Sloan, Harper Adams University ""Thrift's wide experience of and genuine passion for the research university has resulted in this first class exposition of them, identifying the challenges they face and how they might be reimagined in light of these, making this book a genuine 'must read' for all those who care about such institutions."" Mark Smith, Vice-Chancellor, University of Southampton ""A love letter to British universities which, at their purest, demonstrate the best of enlightenment values. With humanity, humility and profundity, Thrift not only articulates why universities matter in transforming society, technology, and public policy but shows why it is important that government needs to sponsor rather than control."" Adam Tickell, University of Birmingham ""Nigel Thrift has been one of the most influential and insightful university leaders of the last 25 years. In this book, he offers a challenging yet compelling vision for how higher education can be reimagined to maximise its impact for the next 25 years."" Sir Anthony Seldon, University of Buckingham"