In the last half century higher education has moved from the fringe to the centre of society and accumulated a long list of social functions. More than a third of the world's school leavers acquire tertiary education, and in most high-modern countries that proportion is more than two thirds, with half the age group in degree programs.
More socially inclusive than ever, bulging at the seams with local and international students, universities are mean to be engines of prosperity and launching pads for industry innovation; sources of regional growth, skilled migrants and global competitiveness; and key to social equality of opportunity.
Universities have become foundational to a huge number of individual lives, while also providing for the common good.
