There are more universities worldwide today than ever before. However, there is no clear understanding of the tasks of universities, and moreover, there is skepticism about their value. The famous British historian of ideas Stefan Collini calls us to rethink ideas about universities. He disputes the thesis that universities have to show: they help make money to justify making big money for themselves. Instead, he suggests recognizing the existence of different types of institutions playing different roles. We must recognize that intellectual search - one of the fundamental human needs and essential functions of university education - cannot be constrained by current social and economic challenges.