University’s Third Mission as a Challenge to Marxist Theory (CPP RPS 36/2013)

Abstract

This article is based on a literature review, and makes an effort to contextualize an emerging stream of higher education research (critical university studies, Marxist higher education research), to mark some challenges posed by the rise of the university’s third mission to the Marxist theory of education, and finally, to modestly contribute to this new stream of research by proposing a brief conceptualization of these third mission activities as seen from a Marxist perspective. First, I will very briefly outline how and when comparative higher education emerged and what kinds of topics it focused on. Second, I will present the major conceptualizations of European universities’ third mission activities and link them with the ongoing New Public Management reforms in the sector. Third, I will discuss the idea of critical university studies and their main representatives. Finally, I would like to focus on their Marxist branch.