Introduction

This book is about the impact on the ethical character of universities from the widespread emphasis placed on professionalism, by stakeholders of every category. It is about the impact of the appeal, widely shared by businesses, governments as well as by students and their parents, for universities to train students for the professions in a global economy. It is about the impact of the encouragement given to academics to regard themselves, in various ways, as professionals in this global economy. It is about the struggle between universities and professional bodies over who are the appropriate guardians of ethics in public life and the professions.