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A GOVERNMENT-SUPPORTED, BUT MARKET-ORIENTED, HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IS OPEN TO ABUSE |
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The question is partly whether it makes sense to view higher education as a business. The government recognises problems. But it underestimates them. In its origins and still today, a university is a special institution: a community of teachers and scholars. Its purpose is to generate and impart understanding, from generation to generation. The university is a glory of our civilisation. It is neither a business nor a training school. Of all this, the discussion document shows little inkling. Abusing a label may not matter so much; not recognising the role of universities does.
An immediate concern, however, is whether the conditions for a competitive market exist. Special institutions have long provided higher education, for good reasons. By definition, students cannot understand what they are buying: that is what makes them students. The value of what they obtain is likely to become evident over many years. They rely on reputation. They must believe, therefore, that the institution cares about its reputation. That is why the longevity of these institutions is so vital. (Fonte: M. Wolf, next.ft.com 18-02-16)
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