This question aims to open a debate on the current role of universities from a point of promotion of the person and its contribution to a world in continuous evolution but that at the same time must maintain values and ethical behaviors necessary for its sustainability
Sadly, I think that the replies of your good correspondents no longer apply to most 'Western' universities. The days where universities existed to educate undergraduates began to disappear about 20 years ago, when, driven by financial pressure, universities were forced to change their operating model to one where they are in the business of just making money. Maximising throughput of students = maintaining income in a world where money from other sources is diminishing. Doing all the other splendid things you mention like encouraging creativity and providing a worthwhile education with a degree that means something is vanishing in the haze, to quote the Beatles.
Very sadly, in the under developed and developing countries, the main function of a university is generally to provide the graduates with some kind of degree. Therefore, as you have rightly observed, there is a need for critically evaluating the current role of universities in light of the real needs of the society as they pertain to domestic values and ethical behaviors necessary for its sustainability
It differs from one country to another. If the graduates of universities are meeting the needs of their societies, and the era they are living in, then universities are empowering their students with the required skills to facilitate life aspects and develop their countries economically, socially, medically, educationally, politically, then the goals of education are achieved.
It depends also between undergraduate and graduate curricula. Most likely a creative education will be pursued while in graduate school (doctoral level more than master level) as the program is quickly geared toward the investigation of a problem that the student proposes to his/her advisor and committee after a few semesters of course work. The institutional history and culture for inquiry is very important to foster a creative education.
Sadly, I think that the replies of your good correspondents no longer apply to most 'Western' universities. The days where universities existed to educate undergraduates began to disappear about 20 years ago, when, driven by financial pressure, universities were forced to change their operating model to one where they are in the business of just making money. Maximising throughput of students = maintaining income in a world where money from other sources is diminishing. Doing all the other splendid things you mention like encouraging creativity and providing a worthwhile education with a degree that means something is vanishing in the haze, to quote the Beatles.
Atleast in the Indian context, the second point is true.
I think Tony explained well the situation in higher education that may affect a majority of universities, which is the maximizing throughput of students to maintain income in a world where money from other sources is diminishing. Under these circumstances creativity is suppressed because curricula and research agendas will be dictated by corporations and businesses that sponsor university programs. In this dysfunctional economic treadmill where tuition costs for education increase significantly every year, most students have to work (often times more than one job) and this life style strips them of a genuine education experience that apparently is rich with events, seminars, extra-curricular programs designed to foster their interests and creativity. Going to class, leaving campus to work, in order to pay the bills is the typical schedule of many students these days and under these circumstances I do not see education taking place, nor creativity being fostered in their thinking. We are going back in time and, under these unfortunate circumstances, education is regressing to be available for elite groups who are wealthy only instead of offering opportunities to all segments of a society.
Well, I think this criteria varies from institute to institute and also have variability even with in a country/state.
Specifically speaking most of government finded universities have plans to develop students having polyfacets but few private universities have mushroomed up in last couple of years where awarding degree is the sole point rather than any professional growth or other skill devlopments.
Primarily all universities are distributing degrees and degrees do not guarantee creativity.
Provide to the graduates a degree to develop themselves professionally.
I'll like to recenter the discussion, please. Creativity should not be confused with skills. While the former is inherent and related to how well the student can identify a need in his environment and think out a solution based on his knowledge of a set of fields probably acquired from courses taken during his days in school, the latter is developed from the practical implementation of the content learned in school. As such, skills are required for use in the process of creativity, but not the other way round.
This said, universities tool up students with what they require to develop skills in their future jobs/careers. But creativity is more related to culture. Being creative doesn't necessarily mean inventing something from scrap, but approaching an existing problem with an alternative solution from a different perspective. This is not something which one obviously learns from a lecture room.
Most universities that have the highest rates of creativity and entrepreneurial development have successfully achieved this through DIVERSIFICATION (racial, social and cultural).
I agree to a greater extent with Bruno Borsari who points out the inability of students to fully live their student experience due to other financial constraints.
To land my point, I'll also argue that faculty communication also has a hinderance on student creativity. Most universities have very interesting clubs, laboratories and brainstorming groups (extracurricular activities) which could help foster creativity in many students who apparently remain unaware of such throughout their stay on campus till graduation.
All the above boils down to joining the unfortunate opinion that universities nowadays are simply "degree distribution centres". The lucky ones among graduates can make it through a successful career.
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