ABSTRACT

This paper adopts the concept of a moral economy as a lens through which to analyze the neoliberalisation processes that have transformed the field of higher education in recent decades. Specifically, I consider a case study of the commodification of a senior citizen course-auditing program at an Israeli university in the early 2000s. The program, which was initiated in the late 1970s, began as a free public service to the elderly population, yet was later redefined and remodelled as a profitable economic activity. Drawing on extensive archival research, I focus on the debate between the decision’s opponents and its supporters, who represent, respectively, the traditional moral economy of the university on the one hand, and emerging market-oriented values on the other. In particular, I illuminate changes in university managers’ practices and perceptions regarding the public roles and societal obligations of public higher education institutions.

摘要

本文采用道德经济的概念作为分析近几十年来改变高等教育领域的新自由化进程的镜头。具体而言，我考虑了 2000 年代初期以色列大学老年公民课程审核计划商品化的案例研究。该计划始于 1970 年代后期，最初是为老年人提供免费公共服务，但后来被重新定义和改造为一项有利可图的经济活动。借助广泛的档案研究，我关注该决定的反对者和支持者之间的争论，他们一方面代表了大学的传统道德经济，另一方面代表了新兴的以市场为导向的价值观。特别是，