TASKS OF HIGER EDUCATION IN A MODERN GLOBAL SOCIETY

Апстракт

This paper outlines some specific issues related to the task of Higher education for the future. Research and teaching, the traditional mission of the university, are still central goals. Nowadays equity and inclusion are expected instead of elitarian access, and that implies successful learning for all, for disantvantaged groups too. Among the other tasks, the University has to create the conditions for developing ethos and social responsibility in the learning life of the students. Democracy of staff in the academic community, students participation, and active learning are to be encouraged. Criteria for Quality Assurance are to be developed, overcoming superficial standards and rankings in direction to indicators of community life and empowement of students (a Higher Education Development Index). In order to perform this tasks in the global scenario Universities need to keep their autonomy and to increase the awareness of their responsibility in giving their specific contribution for culture and society. The Internationalisation of Higher Education at Global Level (cooperation, networking, exchange of best practices, mobility, mutual recognition of outcomes) are costitutive parts of the University life. This article underlines the importance and contribution of Tertiary Level Educational Institutions to overall objectives in the fields of science, teaching, democracy, equity, internationalisation and human rights.