Higher Education and Silicon Valley

Connected but Conflicted

By Michael W. Kirst, W. Richard Scott | Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press

About the book

A data-rich study of the difficult partnerships between the colleges, universities, and businesses of Silicon Valley.

Universities and colleges often operate between two worlds: higher education and economic systems. With a mission rooted in research, teaching, and public service, institutions of higher learning are also economic drivers in their regions, under increasing pressure to provide skilled workers to local companies. It is impossible to understand how current developments are affecting colleges without attending to the changes in both the higher education system and in the economic communities in which they exist.

W. Richard Scott, Michael W. Kirst, and colleagues focus on the changing relations between colleges and companies in one vibrant economic region: the San Francisco Bay Area. Colleges and tech companies, they argue, have a common interest in knowledge generation and human capital, but they operate in social worlds that substantially differ, making them uneasy partners. Colleges are a part of a long tradition that stresses the importance of precedent, academic values, and liberal education. High-tech companies, by contrast, value innovation and know-how, and they operate under conditions that reward rapid response to changing opportunities. The economy is changing faster than the postsecondary education system.

Drawing on quantitative and historical data from 1970 to 2012 as well as 14 case studies of colleges, this book describes a rich and often tense relationship between higher education and the tech industry. It focuses on the ways in which various types of colleges have endeavored—and often failed—to meet the demands of a vibrant economy and concludes with a discussion of current policy recommendations, suggestions for improvements and reforms at the state level, and a proposal to develop a regional body to better align educational and economic development.

Editions of Higher Education and Silicon Valley

Paperback
ISBN 9781421423081
EBook
ISBN 9781421423098

Read an Excerpt

A data-rich study of the difficult partnerships between the colleges, universities, and businesses of Silicon Valley.

Universities and colleges often operate between two worlds: higher education and economic systems. With a mission rooted in research, teaching, and public service, institutions of higher learning are also economic drivers in their regions, under increasing pressure to provide skilled workers to local companies. It is impossible to understand how current developments are affecting colleges without attending to the changes in both the higher education system and in the economic communities in which they exist.

W. Richard Scott, Michael W. Kirst, and colleagues focus on the changing relations between colleges and companies in one vibrant economic region: the San Francisco Bay Area. Colleges and tech companies, they argue, have a common interest in knowledge generation and human capital, but they operate in social worlds that substantially differ, making them uneasy partners. Colleges are a part of a long tradition that stresses the importance of precedent, academic values, and liberal education. High-tech companies, by contrast, value innovation and know-how, and they operate under conditions that reward rapid response to changing opportunities. The economy is changing faster than the postsecondary education system.

Drawing on quantitative and historical data from 1970 to 2012 as well as 14 case studies of colleges, this book describes a rich and often tense relationship between higher education and the tech industry. It focuses on the ways in which various types of colleges have endeavored—and often failed—to meet the demands of a vibrant economy and concludes with a discussion of current policy recommendations, suggestions for improvements and reforms at the state level, and a proposal to develop a regional body to better align educational and economic development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Higher Education and Silicon Valley about?

A data-rich study of the difficult partnerships between the colleges, universities, and businesses of Silicon Valley.

Universities and colleges often operate between two worlds: higher education and economic systems. With a mission rooted in research, teaching, and public service, institutions of higher learning are also economic drivers in their regions, under increasing pressure to provide skilled workers to local companies. It is impossible to understand how current developments are affecting colleges without attending to the changes in both the higher education system and in the economic communities in which they exist.

W. Richard Scott, Michael W. Kirst, and colleagues focus on the changing relations between colleges and companies in one vibrant economic region: the San Francisco Bay Area. Colleges and tech companies, they argue, have a common interest in knowledge generation and human capital, but they operate in social worlds that substantially differ, making them uneasy partners. Colleges are a part of a long tradition that stresses the importance of precedent, academic values, and liberal education. High-tech companies, by contrast, value innovation and know-how, and they operate under conditions that reward rapid response to changing opportunities. The economy is changing faster than the postsecondary education system.

Drawing on quantitative and historical data from 1970 to 2012 as well as 14 case studies of colleges, this book describes a rich and often tense relationship between higher education and the tech industry. It focuses on the ways in which various types of colleges have endeavored—and often failed—to meet the demands of a vibrant economy and concludes with a discussion of current policy recommendations, suggestions for improvements and reforms at the state level, and a proposal to develop a regional body to better align educational and economic development.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Higher Education and Silicon Valley?

Society and Social Sciences > Education / Educational sciences / Pedagogy > Higher education, tertiary education

Where can I read a sample of Higher Education and Silicon Valley?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781421423081

How long is Higher Education and Silicon Valley and how many pages does it have?

Higher Education and Silicon Valley has 304 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Higher Education and Silicon Valley?

Michael W. Kirst, W. Richard Scott

Who is the Publisher of the book Higher Education and Silicon Valley?

Johns Hopkins University Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Higher Education and Silicon Valley is available as paperback(ISBN 9781421423081) and ebook(ISBN 9781421423098)

Where can I buy Higher Education and Silicon Valley online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Higher Education and Silicon Valley from below

Where can I buy Higher Education and Silicon Valley?