Humboldt’s university model in the contemporary world

The article analyses the history of Humboldt’s university model and its relevance and effectiveness nowadays. Humboldt’s university model has been developed in the beginning of the 19th century by W. von Humboldt and widespread worldwide. Universities which were organized according to the model depended on a national state and interacted with it, benefiting the state’s culture and educational level of the population, developing scientific research. The model was criticizing during the 20th century, but many famous universities shared its values. B. Readings in his “University in Ruins” shows that Humboldt’s university model does not work anymore because of the decreasing influence of national states, growing significance of the global market and disappearing of national culture as phenomenon. The author argues that Humboldt’s university model has been restricted since Humboldt’s times but it is still the basic model of contemporary universities worldwide.

university, Humboldt’s university model, academic freedom, higher education, professional ethics