University transformation and regional development

Abstract

Faced with government pressure to transform themselves into research institutions, Ecuador’s universities confront a major challenge. Based on a review of the English language literature, this paper attempts to pull together some of the things that can be learned from the experiences of other universities, in other countries, that have been required to adopt new missions and roles. The paper argues that such transformations have implications for an institution’s structure and governance, but still more fundamentally for its culture. For transformation to be effective, it must involve rethinking existing (and perhaps long-established) ways of doing things, including how and by whom decisions are made, and how students are taught. Links with regional and community organizations need to be developed, because these can provide a valuable catalyst for change.