The modern university in its historical context; Rethinking three transformations

Abstract

The author traces three critical periods of transition in the history of the university. The first is the crisis and rebirth of the idea of the university at the turn of the eighteenth and nineteenth century, and second, the emergence of the modern university in the late nineteenth century. Since that time the research oriented university becomes dominant, as one of the core institutions of modernity. The third transition is the reappraisal of the idea of the university in the wake of the experiences of planning euphoria on the one hand and rapidly growing streams of demand from government, industry and the educational system at large.  The author focuses on the last stage, its challenges, dillemmas and accompanying experience of malaise. He believes the current issues may be creatively faced moving the universities to the next phase of the continuous process of development.