這一篇論文之主旨係在討論高等教育之起源、沿革、發展與其社會使命之演化;包括了早期歐洲、英國與美國西方國家之大學教育與其所擔任之社會使命，進而探討現代高等教育在文明社會中所扮演之角色與展望。最後檢視臺灣高等教育之危機與轉機，並提出改進臺灣大學教育之建議。 論文第一部份將探討歐洲大陸在二十世紀中古時期之天王教大教堂與修道院制度孕育大學教育之歷史背景。日特為了培養社會之社父、修士、教師，而設立大學。由義大利之波隆那(Bologna University)，開始逐漸蔓延至法國之巴黎大學(University of Paris, 1150-1170)。以後在英國有牛津大學(University of Oxford, 1168)與劍橋大學(University of Cambridge, 1233)相繼成立;在德國有海德堡大學(University of Heidelberg, 1386)。這些大學之使命係為研究神學、哲學、醫學與法律等等主科，要追求神的旨意與神國之降臨地上，使地上之信徒生活能夠達成至真、至善與至美之理想境界。 論文第二部份將探討十六世紀與十七世紀之美國大陸設立東海岸之九所獨立學院;包括了哈佛1636、威廉與瑪麗1693、耶魯1701、紐澤西1746、皇家1754、費城1755、羅德島1764、皇后1766、達特毛斯1769;這些學院均跟隨劍橋大學與牛津大學之模型，後來成為美國高等教育與學術界之著名大學(Harvard University 1636, Yale University 1791, University of Pennsylvania 1791, Brown University 1804, Princeton University 1896, Columbia University 1912, Rutgers University 1924)，除了這些私立大學外，在1778年開辦了北卡羅來納州立大學(University of North Carolina)係為美國開辦州立大學，平民免費教育與平民高等教育之開始，美國之高等教育一直強調實用主義與功利主義取向。 論文第三部分討論現代大學教育之使命專注在教學、研究與社區服務。所有綜合性之高等教育都強調開明之通才教育與科技整合之專業教育，並強調高等教育要為社會服務，要改革社會制度，要提供每一個人均有終身學習之機會。 論文之結論指出 “他山之石可以攻錯”可參考歐洲創辦大學之基本精神與理想主義，加上美國大學之實用主義與功利主義，檢討臺灣高等教育之危機與轉機，為臺灣大學教育之社會使命重新定位，提供發展之生機。

The modern nations and civilized world have been blessed by the advancement of higher education in all aspects of scientific development, professional advancement, public service technology and rapid mass communication media based upon a strong and broad liberal arts education related to the promotion of human well-being. This paper will present the origin of university and a brief history of university development in European countries, England and the Colonial America. The social missions of higher education will be discussed based upon the purposes and functions of medieval universities in 12th century in the training of clerical leaders, priests and licensed teachers to educate church followers about the knowledge of Bible, logics, moral laws, Cannon laws and medicine. The early missions of university education were evolved gradually to focus upon the understanding of God’s Will and the essence of “Kingdom of Heaven” and to create the ideal model of society in order to implement in the real world. Later in the 17th century, the Utilitarianism-oriented Concept of American university education is also discussed. The large stage university systems have been introduced to demonstrate the modern social missions of higher education in the arena of teaching, research, community services, and continuing education for professional development and life-long education for all citizens.