The Significant Role of Higher Education 41Institutions of higher education are key drivers in promoting these
values. Many mission statements of universities express the importance
of values. Last week I visited the University of Nigeria in Enugu,
Nigeria. Its motto is “Restore the Dignity of Man” with human dignity
as a key postcolonial value. “The African University shaping futures in
the service of humanity” is the vision of the University of South Africa
Unisa. Graduates are there to serve society. This is the key value. In
many mission statements, excellence is mentioned and envisaged.
Excellence is important for higher education which claims to be of top
quality. But excellence is not a goal in itself. Excellence in innovating
new methods of criminal cyberattacks or more cruel chemical weapons
is unethical, but excellence in developing new medicine against malaria
or improved integrity in public administration is ethical. Therefore,
excellence has to be specified by reference to values.
2.7 Which Virtues for a Global Ethical Culture?
Tree of Virtues