the role of the university

The future of the University
Well its true that everything has been reduced to the politic and economic rationalist.As the buzzwords of globalisaton, the NEW economy, Democracy, the information revolution and the knowledge highway, technology ring in our ears, the university is fighting for existence.
Once seen as the place for the elite, priveledged, men without the pressure to earn money or like Plato's philosopher kings, the university has been captured by the Marxist yet democratic position. All power to the paying student and all power to the smart nations.
Universities now compete with each other ansd with other enterprises in learning. Marketing, fund raising and relevance to students for workplacement have taken the ivory towers down a peg or two. So now you can be a doctor of nursing ?? or have a masters in naturopathy!!!
Yes Virginia the world has gone mad.
As knowledge is in over supply, demand will reduce.
If universities don't re-invent themselves they will become an anachronism.
So now virtual universities, large conglomerates of universities that combine marketing and purchasing power. Resources are minimised and soon libraries will be outsourced.

Is this progress? Soon everyone will be an expert and the world will no longer have a division of labour.Knowedge will be sidelined to the quasi experimental, qualitative, 'expert' opinion that frankly has no value but follows fads and fashions.
This will be all ok as knowledge and truth is socio-culturally defined.
Perhaps we should take stock and design the process of change rather than react to the fprces.
Joyce Arnold