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It's important that any organisation is crystal clear about its intent or reason behind remaining. But under no circumstances is there a more significant time for you to re-examine one's "raison d'etre" than through times of cutback and economic restraint. And which kind of organisation is best positioned to philosophically question its existence than universities, that are started on vital believed (and without a doubt, the self-discipline of philosophy - sorry, I am biased, it is what I analyzed around my masters' degree!) And I may be exposing my bias by pre-supposing the significance or centrality of the questioning during the response.

What exactly is a university?

Can it be the information it generates? But study normally requires area while in the private sector too, albeit considerably less transparently - though the peer review method is likewise less than fireplace. More info: click here.

Is it the "learning" imparted on pupils by instructors and "experts"? But MIT, such as, sites its system elements on-line for free - so why shell out ever-increasing tuition fees? And, what is the worth of the bit of paper that claims you discovered something, when 10 decades afterwards you've got most likely forgotten, or even the data may be replaced with more present info?

Is it the truth that graduates "get work opportunities," as several universities declare of their advertising product? Presumably the glass ceiling on earnings is less that has a diploma, but with escalating access to instruction, so as to differentiate themselves from your "competition" college students are getting to undertake 2nd or 3rd degrees - a primary diploma is commonly no more plenty of.

Is it the effects universities make within the overall economy & within the community? But arguably so does industry of any form, although undoubtedly this is usually a somewhat unidirectional argument as one feeds the other.

Is it the preservation of "freedom of expression," (although not a widely referred to concept from the UK) whereby both students and staff feel that they can tackle the tough questions without reproach? I think most people would agree this is far more than a little idealistic.

Could it be the physical experience? But classes are frequently virtual, and e-books and online journals are slowly replacing their paper siblings. While quite a few students live on campus and organise themselves socially according to their studies and interests, this too is not an exclusive feature of your university experience.I would argue that it's all from the above - from the way that these pieces are intertwined, and cannot truly exist without one another - although such an ambiguous, large-scale "creature" is challenging to "sell" to politicians and the general public. It is nebulous, and it can be complicated, and that's what makes it beautiful.

But should each college have its own identity, reason, stakeholders? Or should they be tied together in reaching common goals? How can their success be evaluated? In an era of classifications, rankings, and "tagging," clarity and differentiation is important for communications.