Current Tendencies of the Academic Landscape

Abstract

This “Forum” deals with recent changes in the institutional structure of academia and their consequences. Discussants talk about new conditions for scholarly research: the state policies of several countries towards social sciences and the humanities, the situation of (young) researchers in research institutes and universities, the system of grants for short-lived projects and ad hoc research groups, the criteria for evaluating the results of research and the qualification of scholars, the reliability of quantitative instruments of assessing academic quality, as well as misunderstandings and mutual mistrust between scholars and university administrators. The authors of the remarks identify the most acute challenges, offer solutions that could improve the current situation, and discuss alternative ways to organize research.