The university in the 21st century

In some of the other talks I have given on my present visit to New Zealand, I began with a disclaimer, designed to insulate me from all criticisms and reproach: my all purpose disclaimer is that I am an outsider. In this case too, I have no particular knowledge of Victoria University or indeed of any other university in New Zealand. On the other hand, there is sometimes a real advantage in labouring under a certain degree of ignorance about local affairs because it forces one to address the kinds of issues that face universities, here or in the United States, as a matter of first principle. I hope that a discussion at this level will resonate with people associated with universities as they think about their own present situation.