Fixing Academia - a collection of essays by ten young scholars from VU and UvA

Are our universities still fit for purpose? While academia struggles to meet expectations in times of rapid political and technological change, the “ivory tower” critique sadly still hits home. Also internally, universities are under immense strain: the publication model is cracking, the academic funding landscape has become a rat race that leads to more losers than winners, and systemic inequalities profoundly restrict access to higher education.

Fixing Academia (VU University Press) is a timely and provocative collection of essays by ten young scholars. In a series of sharp, evidence-based, and constructive reflections on a selection of pressing themes, they diagnose some of the structural flaws in 21st-century Dutch universities. They also offer the tools for repair – tackling everything from the influence of Big Pharma on scientific integrity to the urgent need for better work-life balance for academic parents.

Actionable yet visionary, this book hopes to stimulate conversations on how to “fix” academia and help universities strengthen their bonds with society.