Something more than Higher Education. The university as a necessary community

Abstract

In the last three decades of the 20th century, there have been significant changes in the way that university is understood and developed. We are witnessing a change of paradigm that seems to transform universities into different institutions. In this article, the main features of medieval universities are analyzed, namely, a passion for truth, academic autonomy, and rational argumentation as a means to solve discrepancies. At this point, two questions arise: Are these features normative in order to guide the development of universities in the 21st century? Should we take for granted the existence of universities in the future? Certainly, it is possible to argue that a democratic society needs to protect those institutions in which the ideals that have traditionally characterized the university are cultivated: a passion for truth, academic autonomy, freedom of inquiry, etc. And we must ensure that they can provide education to students, which is beyond the scope of the strict acquisition of knowledge and skills that equip them for the professional requirements and demands of an ever-changing labour market. The university, therefore, as a community may be considered necessary for the proper development of society.