Professors: Cash Cows or Intellectual Leaders?

There are lots of books and articles about university leadership and management. But the role of 'full' or 'chair' professors rarely, if ever, gets a mention. This seems a curious omission. The reason for it is that universities have gradually converted the role of professors into narrowly defined knowledge entrepreneurs. My own research shows that professors often feel excluded or marginalised within their own institutions as a result. Why has this happened?
There was a time when a 'full' or 'chair' professor would be an all-rounder. They would teach, conduct research and probably also be the head of department. This latter role was essential in the days before the rise of managerialism, when university senates were still powerful. Professors were influential members of such bodies as of right. Without a professor as head an academic department would be effectively unrepresented.
But the expansion of higher education has withered the power of senates and the relative influence of professors. Academic self-governance is in retreat and professors are increasingly seen as cosmopolitans rather than organisational 'locals'.
As higher education has globalised and massified, the role of professors has unbundled. The 'research' professor has replaced the all-rounder as the default model.
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Source: University World News, Issue No: 0178, 03 July 2011