The role of higher education in the 21st Century

“Do institutions of higher education now have responsibilities to society that go beyond these traditional ones?” asks Margee Ensign of the Chronicle of Higher Education. Ensign discusses how college and universities have historically served as foundations for innovation and social change, and examines what this role looks like in the 21st century. To this end, the article covers a number of cases where higher education institutions have aimed to meet local needs through community initiatives and other efforts, as well as training students to have the necessary communication, integrity, and intercultural skills to make a difference. Chronicle of Higher Education