Asked about the functions of a higher place of learning, the majority of us would answer: to teach—which would, after all, be consistent with such a name. The objective behind writing this paper was to draw attention to the fact that the functions of universities, of higher places of learning, were historically and continue today to be significantly broader. Among them, the paper draws attention to higher studies being—repeatedly throughout history—a channel for social advancement. The role universities play in shaping the national community, and sometimes also in its liberation or emancipation, is also tackled. The third function confronted is that of students getting involved in political life. In some countries student movements have played a significant political role in their histories, and on more than one occasion have created a community from which graduating students have joined the broad political mainstream. The functions listed above may have occurred with the students having been consciously aware of their necessity, or could have developed spontaneously. It may also have been the case that students’ conscious awareness and spontaneous action coexisted.
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