Abstract British universities have entered a period of crisis. The outward manifestation of the current malady has appeared as a general cut-back in university spending. Until two or three years ago, most universities looked forward to a modest growth in activity. This has now been changed and the expectations of growth have been replaced by the reality of consolidation and modest decline. However, the universities are not alone in their dilemma. The general downturn in economic prosperity has left few institutions unscathed. Most universities, both in Britain and abroad, have therefore been forced to review their expectations and their ongoing commitments in teaching and research. The review of university activity goes much deeper than the immediate problems of finance. The current soul-searching has been sparked off by the crisis of finance, but has roots which go much deeper and touch on the very fundamentals of university education itself. In a sense, one is witnessing a belated form of public accountability: what is the purpose of a university; should its subjects be demonstrably relevant (both in themselves, as well as in their capacity to prepare students for a career); should universities engage in research and, if so, should it complement their teaching functions or be additional to it? These, and many other issues, are currently being discussed, and it is specifically with reference to their role in the field of transport research that this paper is addressed.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Transport studies research in U.K. universities


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1977




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English



    Classification :

    BKL:    55.80 Verkehrswesen, Transportwesen: Allgemeines / 74.75 Verkehrsplanung, Verkehrspolitik
    Local classification TIB:    535/7000





    Universities' Transport Studies Group UK Annual Conference 2010

    Ison, Stephen / Shaw, Jon | Taylor & Francis Verlag | 2011


    Universities' Transport Studies Group UK Annual Conference 2011

    Ison, Stephen G. / Potter, Stephen | Taylor & Francis Verlag | 2012