ABSTRACT
The development of the knowledge economy is placing universities at the heart of
economic and social development processes in relation to their teaching, research
and outreach functions. While this is by no means an exclusively contemporary
phenomenon, and certainly not an uncontroversial one, emphasis is increasingly being
placed on the contribution of universities to their localities and regions in political,
economic, social and civic terms. For those keen to exploit the opportunities this
presents, a consideration of the need for internal transformations within the university
is required in order to make it ‘fit for purpose’ to meet new ‘entrepreneurial’ roles. A
core concern here is how best to reorientate or remould the university in such a way
as to meet new challenges while guarding the ‘essence’ of the academic enterprise.
