知識經濟時代的大學角色與功能兼對國內“研究型大學”迷思之反省

知識經濟的來臨，替大學創造更多的機會，因為大學的理念是有理想面(university as an idea)與機構組織面(university as an institution)，這使大學能在每一時代的要求及期待下永續經營；前者的理想面並未在舊有的知識型態瓦解後而顯得不重要，反而新型態知識的出現，更釋放大學對知識追求的活力；而大學的機構組識面，讓大學認知其所處環境的改變並知所因應；然而，在學者們對大學理念基本要素的探求中，不只忽略理想面的多元性，而大學所依賴生存的機構組識面所展現對環境「不斷地適應性」，卻少有被學者們在宣稱大學理念時所正視；因此本文將由重新檢視大學的理念出發，對知識經濟中那些對大學定位具有衝擊與影響的主要特徵加以抽絲剝繭，以助於瞭解大學在知識經濟時代中需如何重新認定自己的角色與功能，且作為判定大學的角色與功能在知識經濟時代中應是萎縮或擴張中？最後，藉此文的分析，省思國內高等教育政策中「研究型大學」的迷思。

關鍵字

大學理念；知識經濟；研究型大學

並列摘要

The coming of knowledge economy creates more opportunities for universities to keep their longevity than the past age since the idea of a university refers not only to 'university as an idea', but also to 'university as an institution'. The former does not lose its prominent standing, though the knowledge framework and authority, claimed by universities, are challenged and the knowledge configuration is changing rapidly. On the contrary, it stimulates and releases the energy of universities to re-examine its ideas as new forms of knowledge are generated. The institutional aspect facilitates universities to understand the changing environment and how to respond. However, both the plural form of an idea and university's endless adaptation to the environments have been long ignored by the scholars who have been involved in exploring the essential elements of the idea of a university. Thus, this study begins revisiting the idea of the university. Following that, the main characteristics of knowledge economy that are more relevant to the roles and functions of a university, are explored. Then the way is paved for understanding how universities posit themselves in the knowledge economy and for judging whether the roles and functions of a university are attenuated or expanding. Finally, this study concludes with the reflection upon the myth of the research university in Taiwan.