Informing UK Information Management pedagogic practice: The nature of contemporary higher education culture

Our findings suggest that the culture of academic institutions can be driven by changes in the external business environment. The implication of this is that practice puts “the need to please” as its premise, rather than being driven by the requirements of the discipline and the potential impacts the graduate can have on the workplace and industry as a whole. As such, IM academics need to develop additional and alternative methods of teaching that are more relevant and prepare students for future work, rather than continuing the traditional lecture, seminar and computer laboratory formula. In addition, our research indicates that it is important to engage in academic consultancy, knowledge transfer partnerships, community activities and working with alumni. In this respect, the nature of IM is viewed within the holistic aspects of contemporary higher education organisational culture.