Universities are constructed like medieval cathedrals: magnificent, permanent, and requiring decades to build. But perhaps it’s time to embrace the IKEA approach: modular components, clear instructions, and the ability to disassemble and rebuild when circumstances change.

The Cathedral Model vs. The Flatpack Approach

Traditional Universities (The Cathedral):

  • Permanent departments carved in administrative stone
  • Hierarchical structures that haven’t changed since the 1960s
  • Massive overhead for specialized functions
  • Nearly impossible to reorganize without institutional trauma

Flatpack Universities (The IKEA Model):

  • Flexible, reconfigurable academic units
  • Shared services across multiple functions
  • Rapid assembly and disassembly as needed
  • Clear instructions for organizational change

The Modular Advantage

Academic Modules: Instead of fixed departments, universities could operate with flexible academic clusters that form and reform based on research needs and student demand.

Service Modules: Shared administrative functions across institutions—HR, finance, IT—that can be plugged in as needed.

Infrastructure Modules: Physical and digital resources that can be scaled up or down without massive capital investment.

Case Study: The Stuck Drawer Problem

Every IKEA veteran knows the frustration of a drawer that won’t slide properly. Universities have the same problem: departments that don’t fit together, services that can’t communicate, and processes that jam under pressure.

The difference is that with flatpack furniture, you can take it apart and reassemble it correctly. Universities prefer to live with the stuck drawer for decades.

The Assembly Instructions Universities Need

  1. Standardized Interfaces: Like USB ports, university systems should connect easily with minimal adaptation.

  2. Plug-and-Play Partnerships: Collaborations should be as simple as connecting two IKEA units with the standard fixtures.

  3. User-Friendly Manuals: University processes should be comprehensible to people who didn’t design them.

  4. Quality Control: Regular checks to ensure all components are working as intended.

Why This Matters

The current model forces universities to choose between:

  • Maintaining expensive, underused specialized functions
  • Outsourcing everything to private companies
  • Going without essential services

A modular approach offers a third option: sharing high-quality services across multiple institutions while maintaining institutional identity.

The Swedish Paradox

IKEA succeeds by combining standardization with personalization. You get standard components but arrange them to suit your space and needs. Universities could learn from this: shared back-office functions combined with distinctive academic missions.

Objections and Allen Keys

“But universities aren’t furniture!” True, but they are organizations, and organizations benefit from thoughtful design principles.

“Academic freedom requires independence!” Shared administrative services don’t threaten academic freedom any more than shared electricity providers threaten your choice of reading lamp.

“This will create bland uniformity!” IKEA somehow manages to supply millions of homes while allowing individual expression. Universities could do the same.

Implementation: Some Assembly Required

The transition wouldn’t happen overnight, but universities could start with:

  • Pilot shared service programs
  • Standardized interfaces between systems
  • Modular degree program design
  • Cross-institutional staff mobility

Conclusion: Instructions Included

The university sector’s problems aren’t unsolvable—they’re assembly problems. The pieces exist; they just need to be put together more thoughtfully.

And unlike actual IKEA furniture, universities don’t come with a little bag of spare screws. They have to create their own.