Conflicting Models of the University: Traditionalist and Innovative Views and the Semantic Horizon of 'The University'

Abstract

In the first part of this chapter I provide an analysis of the claim that 'the university is in crisis.' This claim, so it turns out, cannot be rephrased as 'a lot of universities are experiencing serious difficulties.' The first claim is of a more evaluative nature, while the second claim is of a more factual nature. In the remainder of this chapter I flesh out two oppositional viewpoints on 'the university.' The Traditional viewpoint starts out from an articulation of an 'idea of the university.' The Innovative viewpoint is based on a more empirically informed view on the history, evolution and characteristics of (existing) universities. The two views are compared along the following dimensions: research, teaching, service to society, the professor, the student and the institution. Both views, although opposed, can be located within the 'semantic horizon' of the concept of the university.