The New Power University: The social purpose of higher education in the 21st century

Chapter 10

The advocate for change

The New Power University must be an advocate for the social good

Throughout this book, I have followed Ortega y Gasset’s advice in seeing ‘the root of university reform [as] a complete formulation of its purpose’. I have made the case that the social purpose of the New Power University in the 21st century must be focused on the triad of learning, research and social responsibility. This mission is not only delivered by the power of students, staff and communities but it is also enabled through the conduct of the New Power University. In building this case, I have highlighted a number of contradictions that riddle old power universities, including: monopolistic and self-regulated powers to award degrees; perverse ...