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It is vital that any organisation is crystal clear about its intent or basis for currently being. But in no way is there a more critical time for you to re-examine one's "raison d'etre" than all through periods of cutback and economic restraint. And what sort of organisation is best positioned to philosophically question its existence than universities, who're launched on important thought (and certainly, the self-control of philosophy - sorry, I am biased, it can be what I examined as many as my masters' degree!) And I might be exposing my bias by pre-supposing the importance or centrality with the questioning inside the response.

Exactly what is a university?

Could it be the knowledge it generates? But investigation can take area from the personal sector far too, albeit less transparently - although the peer assessment program is additionally less than fire. More info: click here.

Can it be the "learning" imparted on college students by teachers and "experts"? But MIT, as an example, places its system materials on line for free - so why pay out ever-increasing tuition fees? And, what's the worth of the piece of paper that states you perfected some thing, when 10 a long time later on you have very likely forgotten, or maybe the data continues to be replaced with additional latest info?

Is it the reality that graduates "get jobs," as a lot of universities claim of their advertising substance? Presumably the glass ceiling on earnings is lesser using a diploma, but with escalating entry to schooling, in order to distinguish by themselves on the "competition" pupils are owning to undertake 2nd or 3rd degrees - a first degree is commonly no more ample.

Could it be the impression universities make for the economic system & within the community? But arguably so does industry of any form, although undoubtedly this is actually a somewhat unidirectional argument as one feeds the other.

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

Is it the physical experience? But classes are typically virtual, and e-books and on the web journals are slowly replacing their paper siblings. While numerous pupils live on campus and organise themselves socially according to their studies and interests, this too is not an exclusive feature with the college experience.I would argue that it is all of 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 really nebulous, and it is complicated, and that's what makes it beautiful.

But should each university have its own identity, intent, 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 significant for communications.