In Search of Academic Excellence

Preface

The concept of excellence can be approached in a similar way as the idea of beauty or good with reference to Plato’s school of thought. As such, we need to acknowledge that they are absolute and universal. A standard that cannot be transgressed in any way. We need to, however, make every attempt at capturing it. On the other hand, from the perspective of social constructivism, excellence loses its ahistorical and eternal character. Each time, its meaning, range and even form and shape are conditioned by the current socio-cultural or political contexts. From this vantage point, one can even discern what version of excellence is suppressed by the other(s) in the course of history. At times, this happens gradually, yet sometimes such changes are revolutionary in nature (in such cases, we talk of a groundbreaking change). Here, we can adduce painting, literature, architecture as examples of excellence, as well as the feminine and masculine ideals in a somewhat different context of an ideal character. It should also be borne in mind that, in contemporary times, the idea of excellence is overused in countless presentations and thus loses its impact. It can also be inscribed in PR campaigns as in the notorious commercial slogan: Porsche: A history of excellence.

Striving for excellence has always been an integral part of doing research. History of science features various trajectories of shaping and transforming this concept. Here, the idea of a great thinker clashes with the one of an excellently organized research team. Monumental works, on the other hand, can be confronted with publications in renowned, prestigious journals.

With reference to Zbyszek Melosik’s work, one can state that two fundamental yet somewhat contradictory ways of perceiving excellence in research coexist with each other. One of them is expressed by a traditional research biography which has been constructed for decades. The other one, in turn, is related to the highest status and reputation. There are researchers who, for decades, have been setting the standards of excellent science and research identity marked by excellent achievements and their professional conduct. The alternative is based on bibliometric markers. Its essence lies in the adaptability to the (frequently altering) criteria and standards, usually imposed, also by state administration, on the researcher community.

It poses certain difficulty to unequivocally support any of these approaches to excellence in research. Therefore, it might be reasonable to treat them as complimentary.¹ However, I tend to think that common features permeate the ←7 | 8→two approaches which can be related to the universal, and in a certain sense absolute, vision of research. They are, as per Z. Melosik’s words, linked to the passion and commitment as well as the originality of thought, responsibility, and ethics, undoubtfully including innovation, new ideas and discoveries. Excellence is not limited to the most renowned researchers and most groundbreaking discoveries. It can be also seen in the work of junior academic staff, doctoral students, as well as excellent achievements in a limited scope. It needs to be borne in mind that every field of study is characterized by various ways of seeing excellence. Above all this key concept should be perceived not as a destination, but a continuous journey that never ends.