Media Review: The University and the Global Knowledge Society

Since the first universities were established more than a millennium ago, we have seen a remarkable rise of universities worldwide. Yet, over time widespread concerns have repeatedly been raised about the crisis of the university and research on universities is largely occupied with contemporary changes. Research also tends to focus on cross-national differences in the operation, governance and organization of universities. At the same time, universities are recognized everywhere, the main idea of a university stays robust and generalized. Characterizations of universities as ivory towers are still dominating many discussions and spur reforms. Lots of resources are poured into seeking to increase their exchange with society at large. But, universities have constantly changed with society and are central for the emergence of a global knowledge society. The book The University and the Global Knowledge Society fills an important need of contrasting the many current discussions on crisis, changes and variations across universities with the unprecedented success of one of our societies’ grand institutions.