Educational Management in the Knowledge Society

Educational Management in the Knowledge Society

EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY

Iuliana PÂRVU, Lecturer PhD cand.,
‘Spiru Haret’ University Constanţa

ABSTRACT
The new context of the socio-economic life development is broadly known today, and its major characteristic is the fact that the main economic resource is no more the capital, the natural resources or work, but it is and it will be knowledge. Under these circumstances, schools in general and universities, especially, become responsible for performances and results, as they are changing from almost totally generating labor force to generating capital. Thus, it is essential that we reconsider the roles, functions, orientation and values of education. These changes can and have to be made by those who are in charge with the organization of educational systems, irrespective of their hierarchical level. There are several challenges which have to be managed in an appropriate manner.
After four evolution cycles based on the steam engine, railroads, electricity and automobile, the world economy entered its fifth long evolution cycle, which developed a new era, based on the production and transfer of knowledge. The most obvious feature of the new society is the speed at which the information and communication technologies are introduced, transferred and used, and also, the speed at which knowledge is renewed, the fact that the volume of knowledge which the mankind can make use of doubles itself every five years.
In the specialized literature, the new society has different names: post-industrial society, post-capitalist society, informational or knowledge society. But, practically, these conceptual debates are not of interest, the important aspect being the fact that, in this new society, whatever it may be called, the types of industry which have reached the top of economy in the last forty years are those who produce and distribute knowledge, rather than goods. Thus, these countries are rapidly developing, using...

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