I think that this 14-pages article, by Philip G. Altbach, is relevant to your research project.

As you know, the traditional functions of universities are teaching & mostly basic research. These activities are carried out by the academic staff. The administrative staff (including the human resources, finance department...etc) role is to support the academic departments in carrying out their duties in the best optimum manner.

https://upcommons.upc.edu/bitstream/handle/2099/8111/altbach.pdf

I think that this 14-pages article, by Philip G. Altbach, is relevant to your research project.

As you know, the traditional functions of universities are teaching & mostly basic research. These activities are carried out by the academic staff. The administrative staff (including the human resources, finance department...etc) role is to support the academic departments in carrying out their duties in the best optimum manner.

https://upcommons.upc.edu/bitstream/handle/2099/8111/altbach.pdf

There are 3 main functions to universities:

1. Teaching at high level

2. conducting research

3. community services

1. Provide facilities for, and encourage, study and research

2. Encourage the advancement and development of knowledge, and its application to government, industry, commerce and the community

3. Disseminate knowledge and promote scholarship

I share the same with Muayyad, teaching, research, and community services are the three common functions of a university.

research and policy advise 

Greetings to all, In addition to the previous answers:

To allow the Development of the Countries in order to be able to Deliver Quality Services to its Citizens (Health, Construction, Energy, Food, Environment Care, Prevent Disasters, etc.)

Create New Knowledge or from which there is give other applications.

Saludos a Todos, Además de las respuestas anteriores:

Permitir el Desarrollo de Los Países para poder brindar Servicios de Calidad a sus Ciudadanos (Salud, Construcciones, Energético, Alimentos, Cuidado del Entorno, Prevenir desastres, etc)

Crear Nuevo Conocimiento o a partir del que existe dar otras aplicaciones.

Nizar Matar. Thanks for share the Relevant and important article by Philip G. Altbach

Dear Gülin,

Besides the extremely useful answers above, I will add just 3 links from some relevant organizations (Europe and USA) and another international one. Here they are:

http://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/policy-and-analysis/reports/Pages/the-economic-role-of-universities.aspx 

https://www.aacu.org/conferences/global/17 

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco-liaison-office-in-new-york/about-this-office/single-view/news/unesco_emphasizes_the_role_of_universities_and_higher_educat/

Best wishes!

I AGREE WITH ANSWER Muayyad Ahmad

Thank all of you so much. All of the articles and your shares are very important for me but I think I couldn't explain what I really looking for. I said functions of a university because I had thought it as functions but now after your answers, I understood that I should not say functions. I can say something like administrative departments maybe. I came across this list http://www.reading.ac.uk/a-z/az-admin.aspx  by coincidence. This list includes what I'm looking for. I know the departments in this list changes from a university to university but I try to determine the most common ones. Thank you so much again for enlightening me about the subject. 

In Cuba we call it Substantive Processes of Higher Education:

They are: Professional training; research and university extension.

In countries like Ecuador, the latter is defined as a process of linkage with society

The most inclusive and updated response can be found at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/methodology-world-university-rankings-2018

one of the international prestigious systems arranging quality of the universities

Agree with all. Indeed that prinicipal function is to educate, inspire, motivate and build a character for the betterment of mankind today and tomorrow.

In Ecuador University Extension is also an educational center of smaller size where specialization courses are given on the campus or semipresencial. Of universities that are located in another city of the same country to facilitate the students who are not in the city of the headquarters, example UTPL , to the so-called University Extension, we call it Linkage with the community, where the students apply or practice and adapt what they learned in the community. This has been done for more than 35 years.

En Ecuador Extensión Universitaria también es un Centro educativo de menor tamaño donde se dan cursos de especialización semi presenciales o presenciales, de Universidades que se encuentran en otra ciudad del mismo país para dar facilidad a los educandos que no están en la ciudad de la sede matriz, ejemplo UTPL, a la mal llamada Extensión Universitaria, la denominamos Vinculación con la comunidad, donde los alumnos aplican o practican y adaptan lo aprendido en la comunidad. Lo cual se ha realizado desde hace más de 35 años. 

Teaching, research, assessment, technology development, invention and innovation, Guiding young generation and advising the society. 

Usually, teaching / research/ transfer of knowledge to the practical world. 

Besides , universities have administration offices for finances , controlling, HR, marketing, student services etc. 

I believe that Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) anywhere in the World are mandated to do four functions, namely: Instruction, Extension, Research, and Production.

For more information, you may refer to http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20090326200944986

In Indonesia we call it the trilogy of dharma of higher education; teaching and learning, research, and community involvement.

You will find our paper of interest.

Conference Paper How can e-commerce be applied to a traditional, noncommercia...

To determine the structure that must have a university is important to determine the processes that are developed in it. Processes are activities that use resources and are managed in order to allow input elements to be transformed into results.

The processes can be classified as::

Strategic: The transcendental to guide the rest of the processes of the organization.

Keys or missionaries: Those directly related to the results to be achieved.

Support: Those responsible for providing the organization with the necessary resources.

The missionary processes in a university generally are: Training of undergraduate, Postgraduate, Research and Extension University, as other answers have pointed out.

The administrative departments must be related to the support processes determined in the map of processes of the university.

1. High quality educational services;

2. Research;

The three main functions of any university are:

1. generation of knowledge through research,

2. publishing the research findings in peer reviewed journals

3. disseminating the knowledge and in formal and public lectures, colloqua, workshops and conferences

4. utilizing the findings for the benefit of society.

The university id therefor an Industry of Knowledge, on which society relies on for development.

Hi Gulin,

Based on all of the above, I'd say: teaching, research, and service.

Have a great day!

--Adrian

I agree to Iqbal Thonse Hawaldar on Teaching, research, assessment, technology development, invention and innovation, Guiding young generation and advising the society.

These two articles explain the functions of universities

Castells, M. (2001). Universities as dynamic systems of contradictory functions. Challenges of Globalisation: South African Debates with Manuel Castells. Cape Town: Maskew Miller Longman, 206-223.

Cloete, N., & Maassen, P. (Eds.). (2015). Knowledge production and contradictory functions in African higher education (Vol. 1). African Minds.