Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., delivers address at University of Oxford | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., delivers address at University of Oxford Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., delivers address at University of Oxford Published: June 12, 2018 Author: Notre Dame News Oxford The Idea of a University Today Excerpt of remarks delivered in Oxford on June 12, 2018, by Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. Despite the ambitious public title of this address, “The Idea of a University Today,” I will not try to compete with John Henry Newman’s classic work. I will try to grapple a bit with the nature of these institutions we call universities in relation to certain pressures in the current landscape. We hear regularly that universities are “ripe for disruption” (to use the jargon of today’s entrepreneurs), that they are overpriced and less relevant, that governments or families are unwilling to bear the costs, and that universities merely serve to guard the privileges of the privileged. Rather than attempting a definitive answer to these and other questions, I will try to shed some light on some current questions about universities by considering the origin of this institution, the world’s second-oldest university. It came into existence in the 13th century, the time at which a number of the world’s first universities sprang up in Europe. As someone whose scholarly interest is in medieval philosophy and theology, I have always been intrigued by questions about why these institutions appeared at this time and what their character was. Reflection on the origin and character of these institutions can provide a useful perspective on questions of our time. Or so I will argue. Read entire address Posted In: University News Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related October 03, 2022 Congresswoman Liz Cheney to speak at Notre Dame on the future of democracy September 22, 2022 In memoriam: Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C., longtime leader for Notre Dame, Congregation of Holy Cross September 22, 2022 ND Forum keynote event to feature Emmy Award-winning actors in Theater of War Productions’ presentation of ‘The Suppliants’ in Notre Dame Stadium September 21, 2022 In annual address to faculty, Father Jenkins outlines campus-wide vision for elevating excellence September 15, 2022 Lilly Endowment Inc. grant helps to expand Notre Dame pre-college programs for Hoosier high school students For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn