A Criticism Of Government And Industry In Canadian Universities

Responding to pressure from the government and industry, Canadian universities are encouraging academics to develop ties with the private sector, thereby accelerating the transfer of basic knowledge to industry. The unique role of academic scholars as a group without a vested interest in business or government is thus terribly compromised. Across North America, universities are rushing to become part of the industrial enterprise, as faculty are being encouraged to become entrepreneurs who exploit their discoveries for profit. There have been few objections to or questions raised about this process. I have grave concerns about the headlong rush to industrialize the university. Let me explain. Historically, universities were never meant to be places where people prepared for jobs or where specialists aimed to benefit the “private sector.” The university has traditionally been a community of people sharing in the exploration of human thought and creativity. The common assumption since universities became public enterprises has been that if the best minds of our youth are an important natural resource, then universities will maximize their development.

The full range of human thought is encompassed within a university. One consequence is that such knowledge often leads to criticism of government and industry. University scholars can be a pain in the neck to people in power. That’s why academics have fought for tenure as a means of protection from harassment for their ideas and social critiques. Society needs objective critics if it is to have more than parochial, self-centered goals. Sadly for most North American academics, tenure has become a sinecure rather than a privilege and