Metaphors for the university

This study probes into metaphors that were coined for capturing the nature of the university. Based on MultiSearch and JournalFinder search results it rallies metaphors that prevailed the educational academic discourse in the early 2000s. It reports that among a list of metaphors signaling university’s environmental change following the inception of the New Millennium some were especially prominent. It also indicates that such prevalent metaphors showcased diverse perceptions about the plural roles of the modern university. As such it suggests that academia’s frequent employment of metaphors advocated a culture for campus-wide leadership in and life of constant negotiation of meanings and values of higher education in the new era. The study ends with a discussion on limitations in current studies and possible directions for further research.