Do universities primarily serve to gain knowledge for no specific purpose? Or is their primary task to serve the interests of business and society through co-operation with non-academic partners? The public conference "Quo vadis, University? Dangers and visions for the future of an indispensable institution" at the University of Oldenburg. It will take place from Thursday, 7 November to Saturday, 9 November. On the occasion of the opening on Thursday, 7 November at 5 p.m. in Oldenburg's Lamberti Church (Markt 17), the journalist and co-editor of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Jürgen Kaube, will speak about the "Present and Future of the University". Interested parties can find the programme here. Registration is not required.
The conference is part of the University's 50th anniversary programme. It is being organised by the historian Prof. Dr Dagmar Freist and the historian Prof. Dr Thomas Etzemüller. "A jubilee year like this calls for us to look at the current and future challenges facing universities and ask questions about their academic and social role. I am extremely pleased that Dagmar Freist and Thomas Etzemüller have organised a top-class conference on this important topic," said University President Prof. Dr Ralph Bruder.
The conference combines a critical review of the strengths and dangers facing universities with considerations on how to strengthen the freedom of research and teaching. Participants will discuss, for example, what a university in the 21st century should look like if it is allowed to conduct research without any specific purpose, but does not ignore the challenges of the present. The question of political limits to academic freedom or who determines the relevance of research will also be on the guests' minds.
"It is important to us that different and pluralistic voices have their say at the conference. We want to have an open and controversial discussion about the future of the university as an institution and cordially invite all members of the university and the public to take part in this debate," say Dagmar Freist and Thomas Etzemüller.
On Friday, 8 November, in the University's Library Hall (Uhlhornsweg 49-55), topics such as "The Humboldtian University as an Ideal", "The Genesis of the Neoliberal University" and "Present Diagnosis(s) and Future Scenarios of the University" are on the agenda. A panel discussion on "Space for science in the neoliberal university?", which will also take place in the library hall, will conclude the conference on Saturday, 9 November at 11.00 am. The discussion will feature the sociologist Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Jutta Allmendinger, Ministerial Director Rüdiger Eichel (Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture), historian Dr Ariane Leendertz (Munich Historical Commission) and Oldenburg sports sociologist Prof. Dr Thomas Alkemeyer, moderated by Munich-based science journalist Anja Reiter.
