The popular image of activism in the university involves students and academics campaigning for social justice and resisting the neo-liberalisation of the university. Yet activism has been subtly corporatised through the migration of corporate social responsibility from the private sector into the university, a trend that may be illustrated by reference to the growing influence of research ‘grand challenges’ (GCs). Attracting both government and philanthro-capitalist funding, GCs adopt a socio-political stance based on justice globalism and represent a responsibilisation of academic research interests. Compliance with the rhetoric of GCs and the virtues of inter-disciplinarity have become an article of faith for academics compelled to meet the expectations of research-intensive universities in chasing the prestige and resources associated with large grant capture. The responsibilisation of the efforts of researchers, via GCs, erodes academic ownership of the research agenda and weakens the purpose of the university as an independent think tank: the essence of the Humboldtian ideal. The conceit of corporate activism is that in seeking to solve the world’s problems, the university will inevitably create new ones. Instead, as Flexner argued, it is only by preserving the independence and positive ‘irresponsibility’ of researchers that universities can best serve the world.

在大学中，普遍的激进主义形象涉及学生和学者，他们为争取社会正义和抵制大学的新自由主义而进行运动。然而，通过将企业的社会责任从私营部门转移到大学，行动主义已经微妙地实现了公司化，这一趋势可以通过参考研究“巨大挑战”（GC）日益增长的影响来说明。地方政府同时吸引政府和慈善资本的资助，采取基于正义全球主义的社会政治立场，代表着对学术研究兴趣的责任。遵守GC的言论和跨学科的优点已成为学者的信条，他们被迫满足研究密集型大学的期望，以追逐与大笔拨款相关的声誉和资源。通过GC承担研究人员的工作责任，削弱了研究议程的学术自主权，削弱了大学作为独立智囊团的目的：洪堡理想的本质。公司行动主义的理念是，在寻求解决世界问题的过程中，大学将不可避免地创造新的问题。相反，正如Flexner所说，只有通过维护研究人员的独立性和积极的“不负责任”，大学才能最好地为世界服务。通过GC，将削弱学术研究议程的所有权，并削弱大学作为一个独立智囊团的目的：洪堡主义者理想的本质。公司行动主义的理念是，在寻求解决世界问题的过程中，大学将不可避免地创造新的问题。相反，正如Flexner所说，只有通过维护研究人员的独立性和积极的“不负责任”，大学才能最好地为世界服务。通过GC，将削弱学术研究议程的所有权，并削弱大学作为一个独立智囊团的目的：洪堡主义者理想的本质。公司行动主义的理念是，在寻求解决世界问题的过程中，大学将不可避免地创造新的问题。相反，正如Flexner所说，只有通过维护研究人员的独立性和积极的“不负责任”，大学才能最好地为世界服务。