The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

What are the functions of the modern university? 7 answers for the government review

  • Written by Anthony Richardson, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director, Te Puna Ako Centre for Tertiary Teaching and Learning, University of Waikato
What are the functions of the modern university? 7 answers for the government review

It’s no secret New Zealand universities are at a crossroads. Financial constraints, a post-COVID hangover and sweeping staff layoffs have all made for testing times in the tertiary world.

So the government’s appointment of a University Advisory Group[1] to “consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector” is more than timely.

The group is charged with assessing[2] the financial challenges facing universities, their overall performance, and whether different funding models would help achieve better outcomes.

Public submissions have now closed. It will be fascinating to see the answers to the first and perhaps most important question on the submissions form: “What should be the primary functions of universities for a contemporary world?”

There is, of course, no single definitive answer. But there are several working definitions that might help. These often overlap and are sometimes contradictory. The challenge will be to find the right balance between the seven outlined below.

1. Driver of economic and social development

This is a common understanding of a university’s role: as well as teaching the next generation of professionals, university research drives technological development and economic growth[3].

For example, the foundation of Canterbury College[4] (later to become the university) was informed by the economic and social needs of a newly established colonial settlement. This role is compatible[5] with an understanding of the university as a job factory (see below).

Governments regularly provide funding to universities to meet training and employment goals, such as the current plan to fund a new medical school[6] at Waikato University.

2. Promoter of equity

The motto of Waikato University – Ko Te Tangata (For the People) – clearly states what (or who) a university is for. It offers employment opportunities[7] that should not be restricted to a small minority.

While you are still ten times more likely[8] to go to university if your parents also went to university, over the second half of the 20th century New Zealand radically increased participation[9] in university education.

In turn, however, allowing more students to enrol has raised concerns[10] about the risk of lowering academic and teaching standards.

For the people: the University of Waikato motto states what and who it is for. Getty Images

3. Profit-making business

With a 20% decline in government funding[11] since 2012, universities have been forced to act as businesses. Shifting to a user-pays funding model[12] means they are selling a product (education) to individual consumers (students).

Furthermore, free market reforms[13] in the 1980s and 1990s largely deregulated tertiary education. This left universities competing[14] with each other in a marketplace.

The importance of university rankings, student recruitment marketing and student experience all flow from this business model. This aligns with another possible function of the university as preserving status and privilege (see below).

Certain institutions and degrees have always been markers of status for those who can afford them. This perception clearly underpins some arguments against taxpayer funding[15].

4. Job factory

Another stated purpose of the university is that it exists to reduce unemployment[16] by training people for work (or at least removing them from unemployment statistics while they study).

A university’s success is measured by how employable its graduates are. This then feeds into criticism of certain degrees (usually in the “softer” humanities subjects) producing “unemployable” graduates.

This view dovetails in some ways with the understanding of universities as drivers of national development[17] (see below).

5. Incubator of intellectual inquiry and knowledge

According to the Education Act 1998[18]:

a university is characterised by a wide diversity of teaching and research, especially at a higher level, that maintains, advances, disseminates, and assists the application of, knowledge, develops intellectual independence, and promotes community learning […]

John Macmillan Brown.

A university fulfils this role through valuable research[19], free intellectual debate[20] and the creation of good citizens[21]. This purpose can be seen to be threatened by the shift towards the business or job factory models (see above).

This view of the university’s function also conflicts with the view they should be drivers of economic and social development (see above), which goes back to the country’s colonial origins.

In the words of John Macmillan Brown[22], one of three founding professors of Canterbury College:

God help me, what would be the good of Greek verse for pioneers in a new colony?

6. Preserver of status and privilege

Elite universities have always offered their graduates enhanced social connections[23] and employment opportunities[24]. They increasingly cloak their status (justifiably or not[25]) in the language of educational meritocracy, measured in university rankings[26] and successful alumni[27].

Their advertised role as incubators of intellectual inquiry and knowledge complements their other identities as job factory and for-profit business because only the wealthiest customers can afford the products they are selling.

But this is clearly in direct conflict with the understanding of universities as promoters of equity.

7. Social critic and instigator of revolutionary change

There is a long history[28] of universities filling the role of “critic and conscience of society[29]”, which generally complements those of promoter of equity and incubator of intellectual inquiry and knowledge.

At the same time, criticisms of universities as elitist ivory towers also have a long history[30].

Nonetheless, instigating social change extends beyond campus protests and “culture wars” to include research[31], social commentary[32] and revolutionary technological developments such as the internet[33] and artificial intelligence[34].

Finally, all universities have to balance some or all of these purposes, whether complementary or contradictory. The answer to the University Advisory Group’s first question is not straightforward. Any useful answer lies in some mix of these various options.

References

  1. ^ University Advisory Group (uag.org.nz)
  2. ^ charged with assessing (uag.org.nz)
  3. ^ drives technological development and economic growth (www.universityworldnews.com)
  4. ^ Canterbury College (www.researchgate.net)
  5. ^ compatible (www.iup.edu)
  6. ^ new medical school (www.nzherald.co.nz)
  7. ^ employment opportunities (www.educationcounts.govt.nz)
  8. ^ ten times more likely (www.inequality.org.nz)
  9. ^ radically increased participation (rogersmyth.com)
  10. ^ raised concerns (theconversation.com)
  11. ^ 20% decline in government funding (newsroom.co.nz)
  12. ^ user-pays funding model (www.scoop.co.nz)
  13. ^ free market reforms (rogersmyth.com)
  14. ^ universities competing (teara.govt.nz)
  15. ^ arguments against taxpayer funding (www.yakimaherald.com)
  16. ^ exists to reduce unemployment (www.iup.edu)
  17. ^ drivers of national development (www.universitiesnz.ac.nz)
  18. ^ Education Act 1998 (www.universitiesnz.ac.nz)
  19. ^ valuable research (www.forbes.com)
  20. ^ free intellectual debate (www.taylorfrancis.com)
  21. ^ creation of good citizens (socialconcerns.nd.edu)
  22. ^ John Macmillan Brown (teara.govt.nz)
  23. ^ enhanced social connections (www.theguardian.com)
  24. ^ employment opportunities (hbr.org)
  25. ^ justifiably or not (www.nzherald.co.nz)
  26. ^ university rankings (www.otago.ac.nz)
  27. ^ successful alumni (www.auckland.ac.nz)
  28. ^ long history (www.humanrightscareers.com)
  29. ^ critic and conscience of society (www.universitiesnz.ac.nz)
  30. ^ long history (the-footnote.org)
  31. ^ research (www.elsevier.com)
  32. ^ social commentary (wonkhe.com)
  33. ^ the internet (edtechmagazine.com)
  34. ^ artificial intelligence (medium.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/what-are-the-functions-of-the-modern-university-7-answers-for-the-government-review-231261

Times Magazine

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis and Why It Matters

What is reverse osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that removes contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking impurities such as...

Foodbank Queensland celebrates local hero for National Volunteer Week

Stephen Carey is a bit bananas.   He splits his time between his insurance broker business, caring for his young family, and volunteering for Foodbank Queensland one day a week. He’s even run the Bridge to Brisbane in a banana suit to raise mon...

Senior of the Year Nominations Open

The Allan Labor Government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of our community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.  Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today annou...

The Times Features

Ways to Attract Tenants in a Competitive Rental Market

In the kind of rental market we’ve got now, standing out is half the battle. The other half? Actually getting someone to sign that lease. With interest rates doing backflips and ...

Top Tips for Finding the Ideal Block to Build Your Home

There’s something deeply personal and exciting about building your own home. You’re not just choosing paint colours or furniture, you’re creating a space that reflects your lifes...

The Home Buying Process Explained Step by Step

Buying a home is a thrilling milestone, but it can also feel like navigating a maze without a map. With paperwork, finances, and decisions at every turn, understanding the home-b...

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

Selling a home is more than just putting up a “For Sale” sign. It’s a strategic process that involves preparation, pricing, and negotiation - all aimed at getting the best value ...

Smart Ways to Earn Passive Income from Real Estate

Imagine making money without doing much work. You get paid even while you sleep, travel, or do fun things. This is called passive income. Indeed, real estate has great ways to do...

Small Details, Big Difference: How Minor Decor Tweaks Can Redefine Your Home

Have you ever walked into a home that felt effortlessly stylish, but you couldn’t quite figure out why? It’s often not about major renovations; it’s the small details that make a...