Conference Booklet 11 Nov - Nina - CPUT ACTIVE Web - Cape ...

36 Paper Abstracts—In Alphabetical Order of Presenters
SUSTAINABILITY IN ROMANIAN HIGHER EDUCATION
CONSTANTIN OPREAN, VALENTIN GRECU, CĂLIN DENEŞ,
CLAUDIU-VASILE KIFOR, CAMELIA OPREAN
Romania, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, Engineering and Management,
constantin.oprean@ulbsibiu.ro, valentin.grecu@ulbsibiu.ro,
calin.denes@ulbsibiu.ro, claudiu.kifor@ulbsibiu.ro, camelia.oprean@ulbsibiu.ro
ABSTRACT
This paper aims to realize a diagnosis of the Romanian Universities
from the sustainability point of view. A study has been carried out in
order to identify the current situation, as seen by some management
officials from several Romanian universities, and another research
was conducted on students' perception and awareness level regarding
sustainability. The study aims to find out the extent to which the
concept of sustainable development (sustainability) is known and
implemented in Romanian higher education. The main obstacles in
implementing the concept are identified and some major changes
that are needed for the transformation of Romanian education in
terms of its sustainability are proposed.
Keywords: sustainable development (sustainability), Romanian
higher education, university management, student perceptions.
THE PLACE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY IN SERV-
ING INDUSTRY, BUSINESS AND SOCIETY: A DELICATE BAL-
ANCE, A STEADY HAND...
ABSTRACT
JOHN BUCKERIDGE, GRÜNWALD NORBERT*
RMIT University, Australia
*Hochschule Wismar University, Wismar, Germany
The university system began as mediaeval theological colleges
invested with a legalistic cast, and ultimately these evolved into the
modern university of technology. In between these two models lies
the modern "traditional university", which is very distinct from the
university of technology. The former had its genesis in the Renaissance
and was realized in the Reformation: it embodies an educational
system that extolls a broad scholarship, particularly in the
Arts, Classics, Law and Medicine. The latest additions, applied
science and engineering, reflect a subtle move away from an imperative
to "understand our world" to that of "changing our world'.
The first universities of technology came to the fore in the latter half
of the 20 th Century with the clear aim to serve the needs of industry
and business; the vigorously robust approach to learning in the
university of technology model reflects a more hands-on approach,
with a strong emphasis on "how to", rather than "why?" The social
environment, especially in the West, that led to the university of
technology is explored, along with an evaluation of the manner in
which it serves both its clients and the wider community.