A new generation of university – institutional redefinition of the university

Abstract

The institution of university, which is occurring in its present form, faces many constraints and problems. The main reason of it being numerous changes in its functioning environment (educational and economic policy, educational services market competition etc.). The most important of these problems is the de-institutionalization of the research mission and the concentration on didactic process, the orientation of the institution on the quantitative indicators on which the state funding mechanisms have been based, the reduction of the rigor of academic culture and the conservatism of the university environment and unwillingness to make changes. As a solution to these problems comes the vision of a next-generation university – a modern university that is constantly evolving and striving to excellence. It is an intelligent organization, subordinated to knowledge, which operates in a hybrid model and adopts the best characteristics of classical and entrepreneurial models of university. It is a re-institutionalized institution that rein-institutionalizes the research mission and achieves balance between academic and didactic missions, revises academic attitudes, norms and behaviors and the has the ability to quickly adapt to the changing needs and expectations of the environment and performs its mission in efficient and effective way. Beyond the two above-mentioned missions of higher education, there is an important “third mission”, which enables the development of academic entrepreneurship, increases the autonomy of the university, and plays an important role in social and economic development.