58 New Commonwealth Universities Since 1963

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 12

58 New Commonwealth Universities Since 1963

The affiliation of 58 new universities since the Association of Commonwealth Universities held its last congress five years ago indicated the tremendous growth and increasing problems of all Commonwealth universities, said the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury (Professor N. C. Phillips) on his return last evening from the association’s congress in Sydney. The congress was a third larger than any other, he said, and the 700 to 800 delegates also included invited visitors from some American universities and from the International Association of Universities.

“It was impossible not to be impressed by the reality of Commonwealth associations, at least in higher education,” said Professor Phillips. This spilled over so that outside visitors spoke of the binding character of the English language and the freedom of discussion possible without the impediment of translation. “But this may not always be so,” he said. Certain main themes tended to recur. Service Function

One was the emphasis on the service function of the universities in meeting practical local problems. Dr Choh Ming Li, Vice-Chancellor of the Chinese University at Hong Kong, summed up this as: “The university is not the outcome but the precondition of economic development.” Professor Phillips said this emphasis was strengthened by the increased number of delegates from developing countries where universities were apt to give first attention to economic, social, cultural, and political development. New universities which had been colleges of advanced technology also supported this emphasis. “There was general recognition of the university’s duty to supply trained manpower and skills, but this does not mean that the traditional functions of teaching and research were neglected,” said

Professor Phillips. “There was a tendency, by no means unchallenged, to suggest that community service was being emphasised at the expense of the teaching and pastoral duties of academic staff.

“There was a strong feeling among many delgates that teaching standards needed review and, in view of student unrest, that the pastoral role needed reaffirmation.”