Surviving Capitalism (Not) : Linda Katehi and the neoliberal reform of Greek Higher Education

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Monday, November 28, 2011

Linda Katehi and the neoliberal reform of Greek Higher Education

Click here to access article by Panagiotis Sotiris from Greek Left Review.

The recent publicity of police brutality against UC Davis students prompted this author to report on efforts by UC Davis Chancellor Katehi and other capitalist agents to "reform" Greek education to fit with neo-liberal values.

...the main ruling body in every Greek University is going to be a ‘Directing Board’ comprised by academics but also external members and representatives of the world of business. This board is going to be responsible for all major policy decisions, including the selection of potential Rectors and Deans. Student and academic participation is drastically limited. Many university departments face closure in what is described as a process of ‘reorganization’ of Higher Education, but also in the name of budget cuts and austerity policies. Faculty promotion and tenure is going to become more difficult.