Institutional change in "The Academy"

Purpose - This essay aims to present role of education and its response to institutional change.Design methodology approach - Explores both a shift in its purpose and its role in a wired global environment. The principal focus is on the traditional post-secondary education but considers changes that are occurring as society moves to lifelong learning. It challenges the current model of change of the institutions as being cosmetic and only delaying a profound shift in the form, direction and purpose of education, as an institution.Findings - While changes are occurring within The Academy, most academics who are working in the arena of e-learning are worrying about changes at the micro level. Most of the power of institutional change has been given up by the faculty in exchange for their sinecure. While administrators are concerned about fiscal solvency, the faculty has expectations that in the end, after the storm has passed, the landscape will not be the same.Originality value - Provides an overview of the role of education and its response to institutional change.