What are universities (for)? Professor Petra Wend Vice-Chancellor Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

14 th Century = 21 st Century? Parent to his son at the University of Orléans, 14 th century: “I have recently discovered that you live dissolutely and slothfully, preferring licence to restraint and play to work and strumming a guitar while the others are at their studies, whence it happens that you have read but one volume of law while more industrious companions have read several.” Son at the University of Orléans to his parent, 14 th century: “We have good companions in the house with us, well advanced in their studies, and of excellent habits. […] Wherefore, lest production should cease for lack of material, we beg your paternity to send us by the bearer money for the purchase of parchment, ink, a desk, and the other things which we need, in sufficient amount that we may suffer no want on your account (God forbid!) but finish our studies and return home with honor.” (Lawrence S Cunningham, John J Reich, Culture and Values, a Survey of the Humanities, volume 1, 7 th edition, 2010, p.226)

Overview Where do universities come from? Short history The changing shape and purpose of universities What are they really for? How do we run them?

Where do universities come from? The School of Athens, Raphael, 1510, Vatican

Plato vv Aristotle Hand gestures Theoretical views Practical ethics Empirist views

Europe Renaissance 17 th century: years of upheaval and decline Scientific revolution Enlightenment Humboldt Fast forward to last and this century

Modern Times Move to Mass Higher Education?

Mass education Supernumerary (Super) tired Superfluous

Changing contexts and Governance Robbins 1963 Dearing 1997 Cubie 1999 SNP Green/White Paper 2011 ‘New Governance’ ‘Autonomous University’

Leading/Managing Universities Collegial decision-making Review of governance models Senate

European Study on Governance European universities should be granted more institutional autonomy The balance between autonomy and accountability needs to be revisited Investment into higher education and research needs to be increased Greater realism about governance reforms is needed A European monitoring system should be established

Changing Shape and Purpose of Universities Many perspectives Many debates Many calls for ‘real’ debates

Functions of Universities Education Research/Innovation Public engagement Economic development Agent of social inclusion and mobility research for advancement of knowledge/ innovation research for policy, social and economic impact research and scholarship for teaching

Additional Role Maintain and/or re-balance the diversity of functions within a university to define its unique mission and vision

How do we run universities? Responsibility towards our stakeholders Academic debate Difficult decisions: consultation University Courts Importance of people

Plato and Aristotle

End Questions?