Abstract
In this paper we give notice to the controversial debate initiated by the Bologna Process on higher education institutions’ responsibility to increase the employability of their graduates. Against the backdrop of clashing justificatory logics – a public versus private good dispute – and the absence of a uniform understanding of the thing called “employability” we analyze the plurality of actors’ reactions relative to their various contestation situations. Applying
economics of convention, we critically discuss how employability is perceived and constructed by agents of higher education institutions, and identify variations in how this EU initiative is transformed to the local level by analyzing the initial dispute, actors’ critique and potential consequences for the configuration of higher education systems. Empirically, we provide illustrations from the Austrian higher education landscape and try to show how societal logics play out “on the ground”. We conclude with implications for refining the
notion of employability.
economics of convention, we critically discuss how employability is perceived and constructed by agents of higher education institutions, and identify variations in how this EU initiative is transformed to the local level by analyzing the initial dispute, actors’ critique and potential consequences for the configuration of higher education systems. Empirically, we provide illustrations from the Austrian higher education landscape and try to show how societal logics play out “on the ground”. We conclude with implications for refining the
notion of employability.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - Apr 2016 |
Event | 12th Workshop on New Institutionalism in Organization Theory - Switzerland, Lucerne, Switzerland Duration: 31 Mar 2016 → 1 Apr 2016 |
Conference
Conference | 12th Workshop on New Institutionalism in Organization Theory |
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Country/Territory | Switzerland |
City | Lucerne |
Period | 31/03/16 → 1/04/16 |