I suggest that the role of universities is 'to help people maintain an independent understanding of their world'. The word independent is there to capture the unique role of universities as creators of understanding. In a knowledge society many claim the right to help us interpret and understand the world. The individualistic and impartial nature of the true university remains unique. The word understanding means going beyond information, it means going beyond knowledge, it means knowledge acquired with the sense of responsibility for how it comes to be known that can make it the foundation for action.
Universities help people to understand their world.
Today our world includes our local community, our nation and the earth as a whole. And the focus is on people. University education can no longer be limited to an elite. Everyone needs to understand their world in order to take effective action. I am very proud that the first goal of the Open University is to be open to people.