西方大学理念嬗变研究综述

A Review of the Research on the Evolution of the Western Idea of a University

西方大学理念的研究者们从不同角度揭示了自12世纪大学出现至今800多年间,大学理念的演变进程。西方大学从中世纪师生们的学术性行会发展成为“后工业社会”的“轴心机构”。大学的性质由单纯的“教学场所”变为教学与科研并重的“研究中心”,再到集教学、科研与服务于一体的“社会服务站”。大学的功能由单一变为多重。高等教育由知识本位的价值观到追求个人、知识、社会的和谐发展。

From different angles researchers have revealed its evolution of 800 years since the first university appeared in the 12th century. A university started as a guild of masters and students in Medieval Europe, which resembles an “axial institute” in the post-industrial society. The role of a university changes with times, so a university has got several names since it was born： “a site for teaching”, “a center of research” and “a service station”. Accordingly, the function of a university has expanded from teaching to scientific research and talents training. In fact a modern university has undertaken three functions that include transmitting knowledge, scientific exploration and social service. The view on the value of higher education has also changed from “the core of knowledge” to the goal of seeking the unification of the individual interest, social development and knowledge exploratinn.