Research
The Role of University
The Role of Universities in Social Transformation
The role of universities in post-communist social transformation has attracted very little attention. Literature on sovietology says little about the role(s) that institutions of higher learning (could have) played in bringing about the social transformation. Although, the key documents that supplied the blueprints for post-communist transformation stress the importance of education for long-term sustainable growth, the contribution of university towards the build-up of the new regime remains ambiguous.
In order to fill the gap, a case study of the role of university in Estonian social transformation was undertaken. But in addition to the analysis of what was the role of Estonian universities in removing the old and what has been their role in building the new political and socio-economic systems, this research intends to make a contribution to public policy of higher education. Therefore, the aim of the research was to suggest what changes in Estonian higher education (policy) are desirable in order to increase the positive role of universities in social transformation.
This research was sponsored by the Open Estonia Foundation from support provided by the Open Society Institute - with the contribution of the International Policy Fellowships of OSI-Budapest. Their financial and institutional support is greatly acknowledged.
For details please see:
Research proposal (PDF)
Research paper (PDF)
Policy recommendations (PDF)
Activity report (PDF)
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