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It's important that any organisation is crystal clear about its function or reason behind remaining. But under no circumstances is there a more vital time for you to re-examine one's "raison d'etre" than throughout instances of cutback and economic restraint. And what sort of organisation is better positioned to philosophically problem its existence than universities, who will be founded on critical believed (and in truth, the willpower of philosophy - sorry, I am biased, it truly is what I analyzed as many as my masters' diploma!) And I may perhaps be exposing my bias by pre-supposing the benefits or centrality of the questioning while in the response.

Precisely what is a university?

Can it be the expertise it generates? But research takes area inside the private sector also, albeit significantly less transparently - however the peer overview procedure is additionally underneath fireplace. More info: click here.

Is it the "learning" imparted upon students by instructors and "experts"? But MIT, by way of example, spots its study course materials on-line at no cost - so why pay ever-increasing tuition charges? And, what is the worth of the bit of paper that claims you discovered one thing, when ten decades afterwards you have probable forgotten, or perhaps the info has long been changed with additional latest information and facts?

Can it be the fact that graduates "get work opportunities," as several universities declare of their marketing materials? Presumably the glass ceiling on earnings is less with a diploma, but with growing entry to instruction, so that you can differentiate on their own with the "competition" pupils are obtaining to undertake second or 3rd degrees - a first degree is usually no more good enough.

Is it the effects universities make on the market & within the community? But arguably so does industry of any form, although undoubtedly this can be a somewhat unidirectional argument as one feeds the other.

Is it the preservation of "freedom of expression," (although not a widely referred to concept within the UK) whereby both college 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.

Is it the physical experience? But classes are usually virtual, and e-books and on line journals are slowly replacing their paper siblings. While several students live on campus and organise themselves socially according to their studies and interests, this way too is not an exclusive feature of the university experience.I would argue that it really is all from the above - during 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's nebulous, and it's 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 essential for communications.