The public space and informal accountability: Verdandi’s study manual, the press and Uppsala University

Fredrik Bertilsson

doi:10.1080/23311983.2019.1586622

Abstract

This article is concerned with the introduction of new forms of accountability. Instead of studying political reforms in the present, it explores a process in 19th century Sweden where the universi...

Highlights

In many parts of the world, large-scale political reforms are being translated into new structures of university management, evaluation systems and accountability schemes profoundly affecting the academic production and provision of knowledge (Elzinga, 2010; Field, 2015; Hammarfelt & de Rijcke, 2015; Shaw, 2018; Shirin Ahlbäck et al, 2016; Wright, 2016)
Focus is on the study handbook that was published by Verdandi, a fraternity at Uppsala University, Sweden, in 1887
Rather than exploring the question of how large-scale political reform introduces new control functions and accountability schemes, this article is concerned with the introduction of seemingly mundane documentation

Summary

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

This study aims to shed further light on the establishment of forms of assessing the university that we may take for granted. It explores an instance when novel forms of making professors accountable for their actions emerged from within the university. The handbook was the first of its kind It sparked controversy and received nation-wide media coverage. It provided the press and the public with a point reference for assessing, questioning and judging university education.

Introduction

Discussion