Compelling Case for Universities

Thisbook unapologetically celebrates the achievements of the University. Majordrivers of enlightenment and powerhouses of the economy, universities haveevolved and thrived for over a thousand years. While still reflecting theirbeginnings in medieval knowledge-sharing communities, modern universities havegrown exponentially in both size and number. Predictions suggest global studentnumbers will more than double from 216 million in 2016 to 472 million in 2035.This growth has demanded new models of funding as well as many new providerswho have added diversity and complexity to the traditional idea of auniversity.Theauthor recounts this exciting evolution, before turning to the major issueswith which higher education is concerned today, broadly following the studentjourney from admission to graduation and beyond. A prospective universitystudent first needs to gain a place, the process throwing up importantquestions about access and equity. Once admitted, they can benefit from notonly the education on offer but a wealth of extra-curricular opportunities. Andresearch suggests that, once they leave, the experience of university willenrich their life in numerous ways.With clearsighted chapterson research and innovation and thoughtful excursions into funding andgovernance, together with some proposals for change, this is a trenchant reviewof today's university landscape which nonetheless concludes that the currentmodel of higher education is both highly effective and sufficiently adaptive.Whilst facing up to difficult issues which must be addressed, ProfessorMcKellar derives satisfaction from the evidence of great overall achievement.