The new role of universities: Societal and intellectual entrepreneurs

Simatupang, Abraham (2009) The new role of universities: Societal and intellectual entrepreneurs. In: Proceedings of the International UNISTAFF Forum "Emerging Transformation in Higher Education Concepts – Projects – Networking ". Institute for Socio-cultural Studies (ISOS), University of Kassel Steinstrasse 19 D-37213 Witzenhausen, Kassel University, Witzenhausen, pp. 71-80. ISBN 978 3 89958 966 5 (Unpublished)

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Abstract

“Change or perish” is a well known idiom which also has a certain resonance in universities, the so called knowledge provider, although it is not widely recognized or implemented. Considering themselves the guardians of science and knowledge, universities have acquired a new title as “diploma mills”. This phenomenon is true in developing countries for several reasons. First, since education should be accessible for everybody, not only for the elites, so the government facilitates anyone who wishes to pursue higher education, or any institution that is willing to help government in providing education to the society. Thus, mass education is recognized. Secondly, quality has not yet been prioritized and considered unimportant although Indonesian government introduced an accreditation system around 10 years ago. Thirdly, more people - even from the rural areas - want to go to tertiary education to get a university degree. Therefore, the number of higher education institutions (HEI) has grown significantly to meet the demand. The society is now very demanding, not only because they demand that graduates achieve good grades and skills, but also (com) passion to solve the societal problems. In addition to that, the Indonesian Department of National Education has promoted and challenged top rank universities to increase their capabilities to be world class universities. To achieve these ambitious objectives, universities have to equip themselves with (new) mindsets and capabilities. Universities which stand for their "classical" tradition and keep their distance from society should transform themselves completely into intellectual entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs. In this networked and interdependent world, the transformation process of the universities can be accelerated by incorporating “protagonists”. A protagonist is a person that will bring a “wind of change.” Not necessarily a structural leader of the institution, he or she can be someone from outside the university, a new person that will help the institution cope with the rapid change outside. Examples of lively interactions raised in universities which changed their virtues are also discussed in the paper.

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