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Knowledge Production as Organisational Learning: The Case of Danish Universities

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The Palgrave International Handbook on Adult and Lifelong Education and Learning

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Abstract

One of the political means to encourage competitive knowledge production in universities is to employ strategic management, but is this a promising method? I explore this question through a practice-based and pragmatist version of organisational learning as well as the Nordic tradition of work and education to suggest ways for sustainable knowledge production. University scholars not only participate in research practices at their home university but also in worldwide knowledge production driven by passions for specific fields of inquiry. Further, the Nordic countries have a tradition of active participation from ‘below’ as a prerequisite for learning and innovation. Research leadership that works in collaboration with peers rather than maintaining a focus on strategic management could be an answer to more competitive and sustainable knowledge production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Danish School of Education, Aarhus University (Campus Copenhagen), Tuborgvej 164, DK-2400, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Bente Elkjaer

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  1. Bente Elkjaer
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Correspondence to Bente Elkjaer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Marcella Milana

  2. Faculty of Education, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Sue Webb

  3. School of Education, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom

    John Holford

  4. Department of Education and Childhood, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom

    Richard Waller

  5. Department of Politics, University of Surrey, Guildford, United Kingdom

    Peter Jarvis

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Elkjaer, B. (2018). Knowledge Production as Organisational Learning: The Case of Danish Universities. In: Milana, M., Webb, S., Holford, J., Waller, R., Jarvis, P. (eds) The Palgrave International Handbook on Adult and Lifelong Education and Learning. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55783-4_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-55783-4_16

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