A silent educational revolution – traditional university missions under the pressure of new social needs and expectations

Abstract

This article aims to show the changes in higher education under the pressure of new social needs and expectations. The essential perspective for viewing these changes is the transformation of
the field of work, which has to do with the knowledge economy and the dynamics of technological progress. Discussing these issues is the basis for addressing the evolution of education systems and critical strategies oriented towards acquiring new skills to pursue new career paths relevant to the changes.

In this context of change, lifelong learning is positioned as a global civilizational requirement
and a measure of educational adequacy, which can be linked to the personalization of education and an increased individual responsibility for educational and career paths. These considerations provide the foundation for presenting the guiding idea of this article, which looks at the clash of different conceptions of the modern university and examines the search for an answer to the question of how to link the autonomy of universities and the freedom of research, which is so important for the identity of universities, with the increasing pressure of market expectations and career-building, as well as how to combine traditional academic culture with corporate culture. The article presents different positions on this issue. As an example of the changes, the spread of micro-credentials and the consequences of their application in areas which are critical for university identity are presented.