The second unfortunate consequence of the marketisation of higher education in America, this retreat from the concept of public mission is a potential loss of universities as centres of basic learning.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Higher education 'market' warning

While the basic concept has morphed and evolved in those past 15 years or so, we are still far from crystal clarity on the matter.

FORBES: Collaboration Is A Heuristic That May Work �� Or Not