Event Highlights: European University Institute Workshop - Universities and change: Reclaiming the space for imagination
NORRAG participated in the European University Institute (EUI) workshop “Universities and change: Reclaiming the space for imagination” organised with the support of the Open Society Foundations. Discussions centered on redefining the role of universities in contemporary society, and if and how universities can act as agents of social and cultural change. The gathering aimed explicitly to generate critical discussion and collective reflection, aiming to analyze how universities might engage more closely with social transformation. Participants sought to enhance understanding of the institution’s role in constructing the world we share, viewing universities as uniquely positioned to foster critical discussion and reflection.
NORRAG brought memories of Fez and Timbuktu as well as Bologna and Oxford to this critical discusssion on the role of universities in society, and raised a key question: How can we compost what no longer serves in order to nurture what is to come, with the humility to learn from different places and people?
The workshop employed a highly participatory methodology, utilizing facilitated discussions over multiple rounds of small group work to analyze problems, define core principles, articulate a future vision, and suggest concrete actions. Four main areas emerged for intensive focus: defining the position of scholars toward society (including the democratic role of universities); institutional financing and financial structure; the nature of academic labor and evaluation metrics; and building necessary alliances with external change-makers. The deliberations continuously emphasized the intricate relationship between knowledge and society, proposing that universities should undertake the difficult task of maintaining complexity rather than providing false certainty in troubled times.
A key thread woven through the discussions was the concept of reflexivity, however, participants acknowledged that this capacity is currently threatened by challenges, including widespread external threats and internal exhaustion. Critiques were voiced regarding the pervasive influence of metrics, the dysfunction of a private publishing system that captures the majority of the financial value created by public funded researchers and institutions, and the broader failure of higher education to deliver on the promise of social engagement. Discussions also stressed the complexity of the landscape, noting that universities often suffer a defensive posture against attacks rather than imagining proactive change. Ultimately, the workshop underscored the need for critical reflection—across all disciplines, institutions, and more—on what universities needed to do to be useful for societies, and to be able to communicate that value.
