What is the purpose of higher education? Same as it ever was

In this era of Covid-19, universities are rapidly considering how to replicate their activities online. But which of those activities matter the most? To understand how to build a university online we need to go back to fundamentals, and understand the purpose of a university. I did my degree at the University of Bristol, and then spent most of my career in HE there, so I will start with a definition from Eric Thomas, former Bristol VC:

“The main functions of higher education and universities are predominantly two-fold. One is as educational establishments and the second as generators of knowledge and technology. As educational establishments, their function is to provide able, self-directed learners that are independent and confident, and will go out into society and give to society through leadership or through civic duties. As knowledge generators, they are research institutions there to provide new knowledge, to change paradigms, to aid society in its development and in meeting new challenges as they come along.”

Once in a lifetime

What do students think? Why do students choose to go to university? HEPI have recently published the latest annual edition of the student academic experience survey. For the first time this year, they also asked current students “What are the main reasons why you chose to go to university?”. In order of most popular to least popular the answers were:

And you may find yourself in a beautiful house

This is just one individual piece of research. But I’m interested in this question not only for what it tells us about the behaviour of applicants, but also for what it tells us about those of us who ask the question. Like any such multiple-choice survey, it is limited by the choices the question-setters selected in advance. 

“To develop a range of skills as a person” was the fourth most common answer. As worded this option is somewhat anaemic, with no reference to the sorts of personal skills you might develop at university. But it is the closest to Eric Thomas’ description of universities as preparing students to go out into society as independent, confident, self-directed learners. I’m heartened that it scored as highly as fourth place amongst the options. If the options had also included answers such as “to develop independence”, “to develop my skills in learning, analysing and thinking” then this theme might have come through even clearer. 

Letting the days go by

As a sixth-form student I knew I wanted to go to university and I had little idea what I wanted to do after that. I chose to study Chemistry based on a fantastic teacher I had at A Level. I didn’t have a particular desire to be a professional in the field of Chemistry, indeed I didn’t really know what sort of job I’d go into. But I thought that developing a scientific mindset would be a useful skill, applicable for a range of professions later. I looked at several universities which all offered a good Chemistry education, as far as I could tell. I chose Bristol above others due to the huge strength and variety of clubs, societies and extra-curricular activities offered by its Students Union. Once at university I got very involved in several societies and the community in my hall of residence. What I learnt through them - organising events, taking positions of responsibility on committees, holding budgets, running meetings, performing on stage and much more - became as important for me as the learning through my subject.

I know students today are different to my generation, some 25 years ago. Am I hopelessly old fashioned, and guilty of thinking from a narrow, Russell Group point of view? Or are we as a sector in danger of doing todays students a disservice, by underplaying traditional broad purposes of higher education, and letting a narrowly utilitarian, careerist idea of university take hold? 

And you may ask yourself, well, how did I get here?

Nick Hillman of HEPI has been critical of those who say that too many people now go to university. He points out that commentators holding this view have often benefited from a degree, and are effectively suggesting that the drawbridge should be pulled up behind them. If the sector lets a narrow view of universities take hold, are we pulling up another drawbridge and short-changing our future students?

For other graduates of my generation, and of all generations - why did you yourself go to university? What benefits did you gain from it? Do you think those reasons and benefits still apply for students today? Please share your experiences - I hope our own experiences will help shape what we offer to tomorrows students.

Same as it ever was