North Ryde. Worth of universities

Universities need to reclaim a moral purpose to distinguish themselves from other businesses, vice-chancellor of Macquarie University, Steven Schwartz, in an article published in Professional Educator. He said universities were losing sight of their ethical function in their desire to turn a profit. ''The purpose of university research was the discovery and dissemination of knowledge for the benefit of society making money was never their goal. The worth of universities cannot be measured in dollars and cents. Education is, or should be, a moral enterprise,'' he said.