Symposium Addresses ‘The Idea of a University in the 21st Century’

Posted on: 17 February 2012

The School of English at Trinity College Dublin recently hosted a two day symposium on ‘The Idea of a University in the 21st Century’ which aimed to provide a platform for academics to discuss modern day universities.  Provost Dr Patrick Prendergast opened the symposium with a talk entitled ‘Universities in the public service’.  In his speech the Provost addressed the commitment of universities in serving the public good and questioned the role universities have within the Public Service as institutions working within a regulatory and funding framework created by governments.

Speakers and delegates joined the Provost Dr Patrick Prendergast and Professor Darryl Jones for the ‘Idea of a University in the 21st Century’ symposium.

Speaking at the event Head of the School of English and symposium organiser, Professor Darryl Jones said: “Universities are first and foremost intellectual communities which operate in the public good.  The very idea of education as a public good has come under severe threat over the past years, and so in consequence has the very idea of a university.  As academics, we have a debt to the future, to help to create intellectual citizens, critical thinkers and a responsible electorate. This symposium provides a platform for one conversation amongst many, in which academics begin to redefine and reclaim the role and function of the university in the 21st century.”

Speakers at the symposium included Principal of Robert Gordon Aberdeen, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, who commented that universities needed to protect their autonomy and freedom of action.  Other contributors included Principal of Milton Keynes University, Professor Keith Straughan, Professor Keith Straughan, as well as many senior academics from universities across the UK and Ireland.  Chancellor of the University, Mary Robinson chaired a roundtable talk on the second day of the symposium.