Current and future missions of a university : an institutional case from Turkey

Abstract

The data used in this paper were derived from a larger research project that was designed to assess the quality of various dimensions of the Middle East Technical University (METU), a leading, large, public university, in Turkey. By using a qualitative research design, this study reports the findings on the perceptions of a randomly selected group of faculty members, students, administrators, graduates, parents, and managers of public and private agencies on current and future roles or functions of the Middle East Technical University. Findings of the study indicate that in three domains, METU is seen no different than any typical university in the West, that is, it adheres to traditional/universal functions of a typical modern university: teaching, research, and service. In addition to these, interviewees ascribe three more functions to the university: a leading role for the country's economic and social development, an international or global orientation and student character development or formation.