In Search Of Academic Excellence

Although specific definitions may change over time, few goals are considered more important to education than the pursuit of academic excellence. There are many different viewpoints on this issue today among educational psychologists and other social scientists. One particularly glaring fault line in the debate divides those who emphasize developing individual learning and those who focus on promoting cultural and institutional reform. These two perspectives are rarely addressed in a single volume. In this book, well-known theorists and researchers present a range of perspectives on how to promote excellence in education. This allows those who stress transformation of educational practice and those who emphasize individual abilities to speak to each, and invites readers to jointly consider the arguments for both positions, or for some synthesis of the two. The point is to consider how these two divergent viewpoints can be reconciled, or simply coordinated, in an effort to benefit both students and society at large. The main thesis is that excellence can be fostered without sacrificing equity, both of which are fundamental tenets of a democratic education. The issues addressed in this book have implications and relevance for school reform efforts and across the fields of educational psychology, curriculum and instruction, philosophy of education, and educational leadership. The volume provides a unique source for students and teachers in various disciplines who want to gain a broader and more integrated view of the nature and development of excellence through education.

All papers of this edition give an opportunity for reflection on the chances, challenges and difficulties associated with the long-term transformation of higher education and scientific activities. Therefore, the concept of "scientific excellence" has been perceived as a guiding idea in the academics' efforts. On the other hand, it seems to be an ideal that can never be achieved but towards which one ought to strive persistently. Furthermore, the pursuit of excellence is accompanied by contradictions which have been pointed out many times in the history of academia in Poland. This publishing series embodies the belief in the existence of the so-called invisible college, i.e., the research community, exemplified by young scientists starting their academic path inspired by recognized professors.

This book examines the experience of 11 universities in nine countries around the world that have grappled with the challenge of building successful research institutions in difficult circumstances and outlines key lessons of from this experience.

This book is based on an international comparison observing a series of universities, where diversity remains huge when considering how single institutions position themselves in terms of quality standards and combine resources, as well as the alternatives they have access to given their organizational and cultural governance path dependence.

All texts in this volume give an opportunity to reflect in-depth on the opportunities, challenges and difficulties associated with the continuous transformation of higher education and scientific activities. In this context, the concept of "scientific excellence" has been perceived as a guiding idea in the scholars' efforts. At the same time, it can be seen as an ideal that can never be achieved but towards which one ought to strive persistently. Additionally, the pursuit of perfection is accompanied by paradoxes, which have been pointed out many times in the history of human thought. The volume embodies the belief in the existence of an invisible college understood as a research community embodied by young scientists starting their academic path inspired by recognized professors.