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Challenges to higher education in the knowledge economy: anti-intellectualism, materialism and employability

Author

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  • Valeriu Frunzaru
  • Elena - Mădălina Vătămănescu
  • Patrizia Gazzola
  • Ettore Bolisani

Abstract

In knowledge-based societies, the importance of higher education in facilitating employability is generally recognised. For universities, a key challenge is how to identify the proper balance of specific knowledge (ie, the knowledge specifically needed for a particular task) and generic knowledge (ie, general skills and capabilities) that are conducive to employability. Today, universities face the challenge of anti-intellectualism, a negative attitude towards the “life of the mind”, characterised by a relatively low level of interest theoretical content and critical and analytic thinking. Relying on a questionnaire-based survey of 945 students, the paper discusses the influence of three employability factors on students’ anti-intellectualism in college and the subsequent impact on their overall satisfaction with college education. The findings show that students’ value of college-provided soft skills is low, raising the issue of the substantive impact of anti-intellectualism on their work integration and employability in the context of the knowledge economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Valeriu Frunzaru & Elena - Mădălina Vătămănescu & Patrizia Gazzola & Ettore Bolisani, 2018. "Challenges to higher education in the knowledge economy: anti-intellectualism, materialism and employability," Knowledge Management Research & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(3), pages 388-401, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:tkmrxx:v:16:y:2018:i:3:p:388-401
    DOI: 10.1080/14778238.2018.1493368
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