What are Universities for?

What are Universities for?

Dear LH,

That is a very good topic for discussion. One that should be deeply interesting to the academic community (not to mention the politicians). However, I cannot see myself attending; and if I did go down to London, I doubt I would contribute.  

I am on the threshold of the academic community, but heading out rather than in. I entered academia as a student in 1961, learned until 1976, taught and researched until 2006. Then retired, and continued my researches privately, into topics that interested me. I have occasionally formulated my views on fees vs. grants (that seems to me where academia suffered a catastrophic change of status.)

You summarise: "What should a university be in the 21st century –  a launchpad for careers, a hub for innovation, a guardian of 'truth', or a force for social change? "

All those, I suppose, to different degrees in different decades and in different institutions. And more than these, for I think one of the core functions of a university is as a focal point for the preservation of our culture, indeed our civilisation. (A university versus a technical college. I think Newcastle University has done rather well in this role, fighting to retain and support a music department, an art gallery, a Roman museum, and an excellent series of open lectures. Newcastle knows it is a university town.)

The academic is an ambiguous creature. Depending on one's viewpoint he can seem a sandal-wearing dreamer in an ivory tower, or alternatively can be seen as studying a vast universe, which the non-academic can barely glimpse. His (hers) is a universe that extends 11 km below the surface of the sea, that looks out into space with a radius of 93 billion light-years, and minutely into the sub-atomic structure of matter; that looks backwards 4.5 billion years into the past, that preserves and studies the art, poetry, and music of our predecessors. The academic may be a touch ridiculous, yet he can see over the heads and shoulders of the crowd. His/hers is a privileged position. 

Some students may go to university to get away from home, some to meet future contacts or partners, some to develope social and political skills.  I went to university to 'learn a trade', and so did my children and so, I hope, will my grandchildren.  I think we need some of our graduates to the point where we should pay them to attend; as was done in my day. (Do not worry; society will get the money back if the students become successful professionals, or business people.) Some courses are not so needed. Perhaps businesses, or other end-users such as the government, could sponsor students (earning themselves exemption from business-tax).

Yours sincerely, Ian West

(Comments are welcome, direct to: cawstein@gmail.com)