Managing university reputations

There has been a failure to recognise the effects of commercial pressure on university administration, and a failure to recognise the different and incompatible goals of commerce and education. To the extent there is conflict and competition between the goals of education and commerce, short term commercial considerations seem to be paramount. Reputation management which brings short term commercial success includes suppression of dissent and criticism, and the covering up of misconduct and wrongdoing in universities. Reputation management which allows dissent and criticism leading to the exposure of wrongdoing, and then allows reform of university administrations, results in longer term improvement in the achievement of educational goals. A long term reputation for integrity may come at a short term commercial price. The competition for Asian students studying abroad has resulted in the compromise of standards of university integrity, and has spawned some spectacular financial losses on overseas campuses.