Abstract

CALLEJO PEREZ, David M.. The Sustainable University: Identity, Infrastructure, and the Academy. Innov. educ. (Méx. DF) [online]. 2012, vol.12, n.58, pp.09-34. ISSN 1665-2673.

This paper is an attempt to create comparisons between two types of institutions (prestige seeking and prestigious). The organization of this paper is created around two broad themes: (1) exploring the realities of a research university, and (2) exploring exceptionalism in institutions that are already prestigious. The paper asks the reader to imagine the possibility of research and outreach by universities through Thomas Stewart's (2001) tripartite conceptualization of intellectual capital. Stewart defines intellectual capital as being comprised of (1) human capital, (2) structural capital, and (3) customer capital. Given the multiple contexts discussed in this paper, I conclude that universities need to change essential organizational behaviors in several important ways: (1) transition to evidence-based and data-driven approaches to decision making; (2) increase the transparency with which they serve the needs of the public; and (3) work more intimately with one another in planning strategically for and addressing the state's public-education needs.

Keywords : Higher education; research and teaching; faculty; university outreach; organizational theory.