University as an Intellectual Polis: Development Management in Policy Terms

Abstract

The author considers the university existing in two modes: as an organization (a system of functional units) and as an intellectual polis (a self-governing community of active and autonomous subjects). Being an intellectual polis, the university is able to act on the frontier of science and technology, to create innovations, and to act as an institution for the development of society and human. A hypothesis is proposed: the development policy, understood as building a polis (configuring the interests and goals of various actors, forming the university community, regulating its life), is immanent for the university. It is this policy that corresponds to the complexity of the university as a system with many centers of activity and potential points of growth. The method of conceptual analysis as applied to studying the university policy reveals the following significant problems and, correspondingly, the following lines of analysis: 1) defining the subjects of university community and the conditions of their appearance; 2) structuring the political reality – explicating interests, distinguishing and solving contradictions, searching for balances, adopting political decisions, creating a «social contract»; 3) building the policy, which includes special analytics, creating a space for communication, shaping the university community, working with ideologemes, discourses, traditions, and norms; 4) implementing local policies. Of particular importance for the university is the participatory policy, which makes it possible to mobilize the activity and initiative of employees and students, and the policy of partaking, which involves partners, stakeholders, alumni in development processes. The development policy is generally aimed at changing the entire way of life and activity, the type of relations and communications within the university, i. e. at creating a favorable environment for the growth points uprise and for scientific, educational, cultural, entrepreneurial etc. initiatives and projects implementation. The paper is originally associated with applying the concept of university policy in the context of the university development problems. This work can be used in management consulting and as an element of educational programs for rectors and university management teams.