Academic freedom stands as a cornerstone for fostering rigorous knowledge creation, demanding integrity, and the courage to pursue truth—even when findings challenge prevailing norms. This essential endeavor thrives best within institutions that grant both organizational autonomy and individual academic freedom.
However, establishing such environments remains a formidable task, particularly evident in post-totalitarian societies. Here, entrenched managerial traditions often prioritize administrative control over scholarly autonomy in research, teaching, and public engagement. In these settings, administrators frequently dictate academic agendas under the guise of institutional success.
Similar challenges arise in neoliberal societies, where universities increasingly adopt a managerial ethos that measures success by financial profitability and prestige, often at the expense of academic freedom. In these contexts, scholars face precarious conditions, reduced to mere resources tasked with meeting performative targets—such as securing research grants and publishing outputs—that overshadow the intrinsic values of intellectual exploration.
The convergence of neoliberal and post-totalitarian university models exacerbates these issues, reshaping higher education into mechanistic institutions reminiscent of past ideological regimes. Intellectual freedom and scholarly pursuit are sidelined in favor of a commercialized approach to education, catering to mass markets rather than cultivating genuine learning experiences.
For doctoral students navigating this landscape, the pursuit of academic success can become a precarious balancing act. Pressure to conform to managerial demands, encapsulated by the ‘publish or perish’ mantra, often leads to heightened stress, burnout, and diminished scholarly quality.
Escaping this cycle requires a strategic approach. Educating students within managerial universities to embrace skepticism, as advocated by sociologist Robert Merton, is crucial. Reaffirming academic freedom as a communal asset, fostering solidarity, and protecting intellectual values are pivotal in nurturing a robust academic environment.
Moreover, forging alliances with corporate entities—rather than resisting them—can promote a culture of ethical inquiry and innovation. Embracing ethical imperatives, akin to Google’s famous directive to ‘Don’t be evil’, underscores the importance of integrity and responsibility in knowledge creation and dissemination.
Ultimately, cultivating academic freedom within today’s universities demands vigilance and collective action. By challenging utilitarian norms and embracing diverse perspectives on success, educators can pave the way for a future where intellectual inquiry flourishes unhindered by managerial constraints.
Anatoly Oleksiyenko, Professor of International Higher Education at the Education University of Hong Kong, underscores these challenges in his research, advocating for transformative practices that safeguard academic freedom amidst evolving global educational landscapes. His insights urge stakeholders to prioritize the values of learning and knowledge development in shaping resilient and ethical institutions.
