Finding the right understanding: Twenty-first century university, globalization and internationalization

Abstract

The “idea of a university” has been a subject of contested discussions for over a century. There is a significant number of different views on what it means to be a university of the twenty-first century as well as on its purpose and primary functions. Today, universities as any other organization experience transformations forced by the current trends, including globalization. As a result, twenty-first century universities have to come up with the strategies and tools such as internationalization strategy that could help them to utilize the advantages that the twenty-first century brings and to minimize the temporary influences of today that could undermine the essence of the “idea of a university”. The aim of this paper is to discover the concept of a university in the twenty-first century, the impact of the ever growing globalization and the role of institutional internationalization in today’s world. Exploring the interconnected nature of a twenty-first century university, globalization and internationalization this paper seeks to report a neglected aspect of the understanding of the “idea of a university”, especially by such university community as professional staff. An implication of this paper is the possibility to popularize the “idea of a university” in order to promote a contribution to its development by communities other than academics and students.