The dromology of the university

By Sensei Adorador

The current trend in universities is to publish a large amount of research to elevate the institution’s status in the World Ranking.

This practice has become the norm worldwide, aiming to demonstrate the university’s competitiveness and the quality of its graduates. However, this focus on research has led to a lack of emphasis on teaching, which has resulted in a situation where students are not adequately prepared for employment after graduation.

Some teachers prioritize research over teaching, leading to the marginalization of the latter, and students must bear the brunt of this shift in priorities.

The metric system that universities use to rank academic performance and the push for research-oriented institutions have caused significant problems. This system has commodified knowledge production, with universities choosing only topics that are “trending” or “hot” and losing sight of the purpose of knowledge advancement.

Researchers often use the community, particularly Indigenous People, as research subjects, and the research does not always empower these communities. Marginalization of teaching has become the norm, with teaching taking a backseat to research. This shift in priorities has resulted in students graduating without the necessary skills for employment.

The emphasis on speed and efficiency, defined by Paulo Virilio as dromology, can negatively affect education and research. Using metrics can create a “speed fetishism,” where researchers focus on producing data that can be quantified and measured rather than exploring more complex and nuanced ideas. This emphasis on speed has created a situation where the quality of research takes a backseat to quantity.

Universities must refocus on their original purpose, which is advancing knowledge, cultivating critical thinking skills, and promoting social responsibility and community engagement. They must balance research and teaching, as both are essential for the holistic development of students.

The goal of research should be to contribute to society and to add to the corpus of knowledge available to the community. The metric system should be used as a tool for improvement rather than as an end. Only then can universities produce well-prepared graduates for employment and contribute positively to society.