University by Andrew Wernick - Article Example

by ANDREW WERNICK A REVIEW Andrew Wernick’s, provide a wide range and multifaceted evaluation of the universities and he comprises in minimum words that vista of university is in a constant transformation. The name indicates the article mainly focuses on the means of knowledge, education, learning, and teaching. It covers the whole prospect of Universities and their role, contribution during the recent globalization of the world and in history. . As stated by Martin Luther King intelligence plus awareness from one’s character, that should be the goal of true education. The universe of knowledge relies completely on competence and visions of the seeker that is why the state of production, reproduction or spreading of knowledge is in constant state of unrest and instability. (Milward, 2009) In the beginning Andrew provided us with the insight of university’s true meaning in diverse nations, during different eras. Differing in its Prestige, from a provider for social elite’s acculturate to a part of aristocratic culture of Rome and Greece, thus underlining the history of education as combination of social stature and contemplation. The initiative of university as a symbol of power or privilege, hidden its true ideology of universalism. As evidence the author provides us with the insight to see what the word Schole depicts, it is Greek for leisure or free time, providing the evidence for education’s aristocratic origin. He defines the position of university as a two edged sword. Where its usefulness or ideologies depends on the one who is holding its material sources, either making it a registered institution of truth, wisdom, science, excelled legitimacy and independence or a mere means of production of controlled thoughts.(Millward,2006).A system that turns the student into client’s or customers and classroom into mass production factories. it was not until mid of the 12th century the university assumed the form of an autonomously oriented institution. The word university was coined in middle ages (Universitas) where as studium generale was the initial term being used for Paris, Bologna Oxford etc. The distinction between these terms also highlights’ the difference between teaching and scholarship/research. However, the fundamental knowledge server role of university did not change over time. The fastidious indication of this role changed dramatically such as teaching is a dissemination of knowledge, to which students respond in conventional manner. But today’s plug and play generation wants to switch this manner to more collaborative and interactive experiences and now the teachers need to be the designers of learning process.(Technology Today). Universities are not only the sites for knowledge but for production of that knowledge as well. Scholasticism and formalization of knowledge along curriculum caused re-schematizing of the knowledge in a circle of learning and produced the space for new knowledge. But the intrusion of specialization in various academic fields has prejudiced the organizing framework for knowledge. As shown by persistence of liberal arts from Hellenistic times to high middle ages. Academic conservatism is produced as a result, in 16th century as scholastics’ aimed to reconcile the teaching of fathers of church to philosophy but they depended upon logical and philosophical truth rather than stating their observations and findings. (MARENBON, 2000).During the Renaissance, the deductive logic of scholasticism was superseded by the inductive methods of modern science. University is regarded as a western institution having intimately tangled history with European intellectual tradition, as the first step of Europe towards modern age of intellectuality, developed by the years of 1543 to 1687 by the publication of provocative books. Namely De Revolutionibus Orbium and Philosophie Naturalis Principia Mathematica and other scientific revolutions created in that era by Nicholas Copernicus and Isaac Newton (Kramer, 2009). Same tradition of development of intellectuality managed to lay the foundation of university and ancient school of thoughts are now modernized to a standard of western intellect. Other Athenian schools already had eastern element, so ‘west’ had the pre-history of development on the basis of absorbing the knowledge of both Roman Empire and Arab/Islamic world. For a long time university served its old purpose of training centre for but now much of intellectual restoration are also supported by other sites, such as royal societies, academies, coffeehouses and salon societies supporting arts and other extra- academic intellectual situations. Due to practical implementation of knowledge, education became job-oriented rather than means of acquiring the information. Thus Hellenic vision of knowledge is opposed by democrats pulling the knowledge to more materialistic direction. Numbers of universities are increasing because of increase in requirements of degrees and courses for non-menial work and as whole universities lost their independent stature. This change was followed by multiversity with multiple undergraduate programs blurring the discrimination between vocational program and liberal arts. Universities whether public or private are competing for students, research funds, and donations to market their image, and an expansion in enrollments is taking place at a higher rate. Cost saving communication technologies in form of open universities and distant learning is taking place and internet is the source of information. University has repackaged itself and now provides a more business approach in every perspective notably teachers, researchers and students are all part of business expansion plan. All the advancements in university have caused it’s alienation from foundation. Its global trend of growth is in progress both virtual and land based depending upon the requirements of hypermodern society and so the professional life has reduced to dependent on it until university reconstitute itself in this new design of development. The paper not only provides the idea about the framework of university and detail description of modern research university, from history to the new direction of development, the paper challenges the perception of a learner whether to take the side of modernization or to reject it because This turning point is being blown from many directions. Moreover discussion regarding the two core function of university is conflicting in itself, whether teaching is the primary role or research should be included as well, issues regarding all the accommodations that are needed for research facility. At one point this modernization lays the foundation of variety of knowledgeable aspects and on the other hand conflicting communities are being served which are more drawn towards material sources and outcomes of knowledge making university as a training centre for professionals entering in trade of earning more and more money rather than creating a society enriched with knowledge and thoughtful approach, trends of decline of interest in humanities shows the influence of materialism among students with the increase in vocational programs. The results were obviously conflicting leading to dual meaning of university. The disputes were also creative following the development of critique and meta-reflection analysis. Andrew described university as a conservator of past and an agent of change in new world. Multiversity is the word coined for it, differing from university, multiversity is geared towards research and specialization including governmental grants, university has become so many things for so many people that it is in a constant war with itself, as explained by Kerr in his book Uses of University. Andrew gave more complex ideology of the subject portraying not only university’s prime but their reduced influence on professional life of a person in a post modern society. Changes are occurring on daily basis in the world caused by economic globalizations. All of these influences demand for the increase of research and knowledge, and depicts the state of constant hunger for the change in thoughts and attitudes. The paper however does not indicate the practicalities leading to the transformation of universities. Nor does it describes the causes of administration to increase the number of students and departments other then financial expansion plan, the factors as population growth and increase of knowledge as the demand of modern culture and increase in competitors, reluctance of trustees or legislators to increase the funding are also the causes of expansion of universities. However, Andrew was successful in depicting the clear image of university from medieval times to modern society with quite a flow that a reader finds himself facing globalization of universities rather than just reading about them. He has a rare combination of good writing and masses of information. A History of Education in Antiquity H. I. Marrou studies the Hellenistic period with thoroughness and entangled the recent discoveries to bring to light every detail of organization and method. Also Traces the development of roman and Christian education up to middle Ages. The University in Ruins, Bill Readings gives the diagnosis of post-historical university and indicates that modern university as a ruined institution because university is turned into excellent business rather than an intellectual institution The Two Cultures, C.P Snow discusses the scientists and literary intellectuals, influenced by contemporary thinkers and tells us about the problems dealing with humanities and sciences. The German Ideology by karl Marx, Marx and Engies wrote the book in response to the book by Hegel, who contradicted their views of university and its idealism and conceptions of history. His theory of revolutionary method inseparable from revolutionary goal is a just to the real world. The Idea of the University by John Henry Newman, In the book Newman stresses upon education as the primary goal and with grounding in general knowledge as a liberal education. He also elaborated equality of opportunity and quality of education. The Uses of the University by Clark Kerr, The foundation of Clark’s book lies on the detailed description on modern American University. He used the term multiversity, whose origin connect back from Greece and it’s the culmination of the modernized version of university. He has compared the different eras of university’s growth and the challenges it has been facing since the time of its occurrence. Bibliography Top of Form MILWARD, P. (2006). What is a university? London, Shepheard-Walwyn. Top of Form MILWARD, P. (2009). Wisdom and the well-rounded life what is a university? Golden, Colo, Fulcrum. http://site.ebrary.com/id/10298257. Top of Form MARENBON, J. (2000). Humanism, Scholasticism and the School of Chartres. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE CLASSICAL TRADITION. 6, 569-577. Top of Form Top of Form KRAMER, L. S. (2001). European thought & culture in the 19th century. Chantilly, VA, Teaching Co. Using the Technology In Today’s Classroom, At The Education Arcade, http://education.mit.edu/papers/GamesSimsSocNets_EdArcade.pdfBottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Read More