The national community and the university

In the current environment of globalisation, competition and engagement in the global knowledge economy, universities are increasingly expected to perform against global expectations. What can sometimes seem eclipsed in the current rush to perform against these global expectations is the mission of a university to engage and support the common good within a framework of nation building. Building a sense of shared national purpose and commitment to the common good by universities requires a serious look at how contemporary globalisation and the spread and ascendency of individualistic values is diminishing our sense of shared duty and genuine community engagement.