University community between global and local: Challenges and responses

Abstract

Globalization and its effects in education and science are serious challenges for modern universities that are forced to define ourselves in global academic and educational space. At the same time, universities are moving to local urban communities. This movement has different names («social role», «social mission» or «third role») and different interpretations and meanings. The interconnection of these trends is discussed for cases of the Catholic university of Leuven (Belgium), the university of Göttingen (Germany) and Perm state university (Russia).