Universities, a universe of challenges confronted by elusive visions

By Alex Navarre

University mission was self-defined over the years as first and foremost, to train students to acquire in-depth analytical rigor (which distinguishes universities from vocational schools); second, to conduct frontier research that will put that advanced knowledge to test and give the opportunity for graduate students to work on current issues; and third, a fuzzy concept of services to society interpreted by university presidents in many political ways to serve their interests vis-à-vis their stakeholders.