Communication and evaluation of academic knowledge: tecnocracy and market

Abstract

Evaluation of education systems is a discourse practice that has spread throughout the world since the end of the last century. It is usually presented as a mechanism for modernising education or research according to European or world-wide standards. In this article it is sustained the thesis that academic evaluation is structured as a tool to discipline institutions and subjects. Firstly, the audit culture is contextualized because the historical, economic and political perspective clarifies the phenomenon on a global scale and gives it meaning as a mechanism of power. Secondly, the role played by some key instances and discourses are analyzed. Finally, the limitations to some questions about the evaluation system are presented.