The Role of Universities

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the role of universities in cultivating students' capabilities to sustain their careers in the changing world of work and to flourish in life through their personal becoming. First, the chapter outlines the ecosystems of universities. Next, it presents the challenges and opportunities society and the world of work pose to universities. This chapter introduces a novel framework that shows how the academic and operational competencies lead to the life-world becoming of students and contributes to the existing university ecosystems theory. Based on the explored literature and the authors' long-term experience in higher education, this chapter also outlines the implications for educational researchers, practical implications for educational practitioners, and broader society.