Expert Comment
There is a fascinating moment when academics reflect upon their practices in ways that are not just emblematic but are clearly leading to real change in what the practice of being an academic actually means. I have been reminded of this fact twice recently as I have considered practices of teaching and research at a number of universities around the world.
The nature of expertise is a variable thing. It is fascinating how and why people come to be seen as legitimate commentators on issues, sometimes when they can be demonstrated to have little deep understanding of those same issues.
One of the things that often shocks new journal editors is the difficulty that they face in obtaining referees for papers. It is often necessary to approach a string of referees in order to obtain the requisite number of references. Most annoyingly of all, sometimes a person who has just submitted a paper to a journal then refuses to referee for it or has the nerve to complain about delays to the reviewing process occasioned precisely by the search for referees.
Taking on a university presidency is becoming a more and more precarious option–a sinecure it is not. No doubt that is as it should be, but recent events show just how difficult the task of leading a university can now be. No wonder that the average length of tenure of university presidents is declining almost everywhere.
This month saw the launch of the new report from the American Council on Education on the globalization of higher education, “Strength through Global Leadership and Engagement.” I was lucky enough to be one of the three overseas members of the 19-person advisory board that oversaw its production, and I can attest to the fact that the meetings were not only happy and productive under the inspirational chairing of John Sexton and Molly Corbett Broad but have, I think, made the into something special.