Jens Rennstam
Senior lecturer, Director of third cycle studies, Department of Business Administration
Att skapa en civil ekonom: Civilekonomprogrammet som en marknadsdriven utbildning
Author
Summary, in English
In this article we analyze the initial phase (2004–2006) in the establishment
of the vocational degree of ’civilekonom’ [literally: ‘civil economist’] as a
process of professionalization. Drawing upon ideas from discourse analysis,
we investigate texts produced by ’Civilekonomerna’ [the union of economics
and business graduates], ’Lagstiftaren’ [the legislature], and the expert panel
of the assessment process where some universities were granted the right to
issue the degree of ’civilekonom’. The study shows that the establishment
of ‘civilekonom’ as a vocational degree follows a selective, market based
discourse, rather than a resource based one, which is quite unique in the
context of professionalization. Our conclusion is that the establishment of
‘civilekonom’ exemplifies one way in which a profession may undermine
its own source of legitimacy by aiming to satisfy selected recipients, and
trying to sell its services on a market where it initially lacks competitive
advantage. The article ends by pointing at potential long-term problems
with a selectively market based professionalization. We conclude the article
with a discussion of the value of a ‘civil ekonom’ in light of the role of the
modern university in society.
of the vocational degree of ’civilekonom’ [literally: ‘civil economist’] as a
process of professionalization. Drawing upon ideas from discourse analysis,
we investigate texts produced by ’Civilekonomerna’ [the union of economics
and business graduates], ’Lagstiftaren’ [the legislature], and the expert panel
of the assessment process where some universities were granted the right to
issue the degree of ’civilekonom’. The study shows that the establishment
of ‘civilekonom’ as a vocational degree follows a selective, market based
discourse, rather than a resource based one, which is quite unique in the
context of professionalization. Our conclusion is that the establishment of
‘civilekonom’ exemplifies one way in which a profession may undermine
its own source of legitimacy by aiming to satisfy selected recipients, and
trying to sell its services on a market where it initially lacks competitive
advantage. The article ends by pointing at potential long-term problems
with a selectively market based professionalization. We conclude the article
with a discussion of the value of a ‘civil ekonom’ in light of the role of the
modern university in society.
Department/s
- Department of Business Administration
Publishing year
2012
Language
Swedish
Pages
77-90
Publication/Series
Nordiske Organisasjonsstudier
Links
Document type
Journal article (comment)
Publisher
Fagbokforlaget
Topic
- Business Administration
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1501-8237