Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Flexible Professional in the Knowledge Society pp 111–137Cite as

Graduates in the Knowledge and Innovation Society

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Higher Education Dynamics ((HEDY,volume 35))

Abstract

According to the crucial importance of innovation for modern economies, the role of graduates regarding innovation appears to be a major topic when their performances in the labour market at stake. Five main questions are addressed in this chapter: (1) What does innovation mean? (2) Which organisations are likely to be more innovative? (3) What role do Higher Education graduates play regarding innovation? (4) Are they equipped to do develop innovation? (5) Which are the occupations more related to innovation, and are innovative activities rewarded? The results presented in this chapter confirm that higher education graduates are crucial actors in the innovation process. The jobs of innovative graduates show a number of specific characteristics: a high level of autonomy, more leeway to define their own goals and to perform their tasks. A paradox that emerged is the following: although innovation is more strongly developed in large organisations, small organisations offer graduates more opportunities to play a role in introducing innovations. When earnings are considered, innovative activities appear to be rewarded, in the private sector. That confirms the impression that innovation is recognised as valuable by organisations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Allen, J., & van der Velden, R. (2005). The Flexible Professional in the Knowledge Society: Conceptual Framework of the REFLEX Project, REFLEX Working paper 1, Maastricht, Netherlands.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canberra Manual (1995). The measurement of scientific and technological activities. Manual on the measurement of human resources devoted to S&T “Canberra Manual”. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castells, M. (2000). The rise of the network society (2nd ed., Vol. I). Cambridge, MA; Oxford: Blackwell (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, W., & Levinthal, D. (1990). Absorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35, 128–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drucker, P. (1959). Landmarks of tomorrow: A report on the new post-modern world. New York: Harper.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duru-Bellat, M. (2006). L’inflation scolaire: Les désillusions de la méritocratie. Paris: Seuil.

    Google Scholar 

  • European Innovation Scoreboard. (2006). Comparative Analysis of Innovation Performance, Pro Inno Europe, Innometrics, available on internet http://www.proinno-europe.eu/inno-metrics.html

  • Foray, D. (2000). L’économie de la connaissance. Paris: La Découverte.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frascati manual. (2002). Proposed standard practice for surveys on research and experimental development. Paris: OECD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oslo Manual. (2002). The measurement of scientific and technological activities. Proposed guidelines for collecting and interpreting technological innovation data. OECD, European Commission, Eurostat, Second edition, Available on Internet: http://www.oecd.org

  • Reich, R. (1991). The work of nations, preparing ourselves for the 21st century capitalism. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumpeter, J. (1934). The theory of economic development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf, A. (2003). Does education matter: Myths about education and economic growth? London: Penguin Books.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Research in the Sociology and Economics of Education, Dijon, France

    Jean-Jacques Paul

Authors
  1. Jean-Jacques Paul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean-Jacques Paul .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Research Centre for Education and the La, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, Netherlands

    Jim Allen

  2. , Research Centre for Education and the La, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, Maastricht, 6200 MD, Netherlands

    Rolf van der Velden

Appendix: To What Extent Innovative Activities Are Related to a Specific Working Environment?

Appendix: To What Extent Innovative Activities Are Related to a Specific Working Environment?

Table 7
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Paul, JJ. (2011). Graduates in the Knowledge and Innovation Society. In: Allen, J., van der Velden, R. (eds) The Flexible Professional in the Knowledge Society. Higher Education Dynamics, vol 35. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1353-6_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation