Are all universities universities? The university as an ethical community

Abstract

The university is an uncertain institution, as its history reflects. It seems as if this uncertainty were part of its own nature and definition, an uncertainty which is adapted to the circumstances of any time and place. Moreover, when we stand before a university in which uncertainty has been diluted, or has simply disappeared, we wonder if the university can be called as such. Among other issues, there is uncertainty about what kind of community the university is, and especially what kind of community it should be. This paper delves into the idea that university is an ethical community. Furthermore, we try to argue that this feature is not ornamental or elective, but is also part of its definition, and something that should be recovered for the construction of the EHEA. Here, participation and student learning during the learning and teaching process and tutorial activity can be good places in which to generate a sense of belonging, involvement and meaningful participation in university life and, ultimately, enhance the sense of community and commitment. To do so, we examine various reasons why the university should be understood as an ethical community, and suggest various ways in which we could start working on the issue.