Abstract:
The 20th century can be justly considered as the new era in the field of higher education, as the
starting point of an entire process of reformation and reorientation of university values and principles.
The three European initiatives: “Humboldt University”, “French University” and “civic university” have
triggered significant changes in the core of an institution of higher education, which, together with the
“American University” have launched the entire system of higher education towards a new era of
modernization. This article tackles the problems and milestones encountered by the universities in the 20th
centuries in their endeavor of setting themselves as the pillar for the development of society in an era of
constant change and adaptation.