UNIVERSITIES, SOCIETY AND THE EDUCATING OF MANAGERS: A NECESSARY REFLECTION

Abstract

The role of the university in the modern world and in the current context of society has been discussed by several authors and persons active in this field, mainly in the area of Education. The pressure exerted by state policies in forcing universities towards the market and the internal changes based on the resulting pattern have raised questions that must be addressed. These discussions cover all professional degrees offered by universities; whilst the Management course, historically based on a dominant view of a market-centric social reality, cannot be exempt from this thought process. Within this context, this paper, itself a theoretical essay, aims to reflect on the role of the university in its relationship with society: specifically the formation of the manager. It points out the places where the role is relevant and reflecting on the knowledge available regarding organizations and management, as well as the limits of the prevalent concept of organization in administration. Our findings indicate the reality of a course strongly rooted in a hegemonic vision of the field, focused on the market, yet unable to cater to its needs. Underlying this issue is the literature used for educating managers in Brazil that reinforces the lack of critical perspective, either through the use of manuals or that of so-called pop management literature.