Research university versus classical university?

Today the theme of the Classical University is being actively discussed within the framework of the challenges it met after the nine centuries of its history. The University was established on the idea of knowledge and advance of a human to knowledge has become its mission. However, the University ended up in a crisis in the 21st century. Therefore, there is a question whether the Classics disappear, as well as what is happening with the Classical University when other University forms have grown around it? The article defines the problem of correlation of the Classical University and the Research University. The Research University is a new type of University. Today the Classic University takes its name. The research hypothesis is expressed that the Research University is a form of the Classical University. This form emerged under the conditions of new sociality, science and culture. These transformations concern the criteria, idea and mission of the Classical University. Globalization processes and dynamics, randomness, unpredictability and multilinearity development characterize the contemporary sociality. Modern sociality specifies the direction of transformations of the Classical University. Problem solving is focused on the wording of these parameters given by Humboldt. Knowledge and truth are the traditional idea of the University, its essential content and symbolic form. Therefore, they evidence about transformations of the modern University and highlight the new state of knowledge (informational status). Information gives the University all its new features (utilitarian nature, cost and product forms, and the possibility of commercialization). The Research University perceives them. At the same time, the Research University is a continuation of the Classical University. The criteria of the Classical University are a legacy for the Research University but these criteria acquire a form relevant for the modernity. This is one of the conclusions of our comparative analysis. Relevance is guaranteed by the fact that the modern Research University is a World University in contrast to the Classical University. The modern Research University enters the competition for global leadership and demonstrates its competitiveness in the world educational space.

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