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The word "scholarship" is used here in its original sense, learning or study at a deep level. When scholarship is primarily intended to obtain new knowledge it is called research.
This is the core activity of any university. Each generation of scholars is expected to critically scrutinise the knowledge handed down from the past; in this way knowledge is advanced. This only works in a "collegial" culture, where the most junior member of a department feels free to criticise the beliefs of the most senior. Historically this has worked best where department heads have created such a culture or where departments are run by an elected member. The Soviet Union tried to encourage university research by direction from the top downwards; a famous example is where all members of a department changed their mind on a contentious issue when the head changed his. Not surprisingly, Soviet research fell behind the west. The new managerial culture running Australian universities is following the Soviet model by eliminating collegiality and assessing research on an accounting basis.
The greatest advances in knowledge result from "curiosity-driven" research where the investigator can follow his or her nose for the most interesting questions. Traditionally this was the domain of universities whereas industry concentrated on solving practical problems, "applied" research. Australian universities have now implemented measures to encourage applied at the expense of pure research.
University research still carries prestige - "university tests prove" is still seen as a positive endorsement. In an age when prestige is seen as a commodity it is not surprising that universities are selling it. This can be subtle, for example if a firm is financing a university's research then that research is unlikely to criticise the firm. This process may ultimately destroy the independence of university staff and the good name of university research.
Akademos aims to promote critical scholarship and independent research of all types within a collegial culture.
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