The Transformation of Knowledge Production and The Academic Community. “Playing the game and (still) being an academic?”

Abstract

regarding the transformation of modes of knowledge production in higher education and its relationship with the academic community. It draws upon discourse analysis theory and methodology and on interviews with Portuguese and English higher education key-actors and academics. This work has allowed for the conclusion that Mode-1 features – focused on aca-demic community and disciplinary based knowledge – are (still) central to the academic com-munity and to the production of knowledge in higher education, and that Mode-2 – emphasis-ing application and accountability – has emerged as a possible scenario for higher education. That scenario can be characterised by a decrease in discoveries and originality in scientific work and an increase in (safe) research that is publishable.