University models in cultural discourse

The article considers main models of pre-classical, classical and post-classical universities regarding their interconnection with culture. There are given characteristics of the following university models: corporate university, research university, intellectual university, cultural university, multiuniversity, adaptive university, entrepreneurial university, pragmatic university and excellence university. The comparative analysis of these models was carried out with respect to what their mission is, whether their priority is to develop general or professional culture of students, and whether the teaching process is focused on liberal or utilitarian knowledge. Education at different models of university is presented as a natural process of searching for the most suitable type of an educational system at this or that historical period of culture development. The article identifies a culture-forming potential of the considered university models which is revealed in the development of corporate, research, intellectual, general and professional culture, adaptive, entrepreneurial and pragmatic culture, the culture of diversity and global culture.