The role of higher education in cultural change

The main objective of the research is to determine the role of higher education in cultural change according to the faculty members. A qualitative research model was used in the research. The study group was composed of lecturers working in higher education in Afghanistan and Turkey. The data collection tool was developed by the researcher and his advisor. The research data were obtained by email from the participants, who voluntarily answered the questions in the interview form. The following results were obtained in the research: Education has social, political, economic, and individual functions. The social functions of education are socialization and integration of society and individual functions; it provides individuals with a profession, status, and way of life and provides social mobility. Through education, people get to know themselves, improve communication and cooperation, and learn to live a healthy life. Cultural functions of education include the preservation of culture, the construction of social life, individual socialization, causing change by providing social mobility, ensuring the continuation of society, and providing economic and cultural change and development to the country. Culture shapes the way of perceiving the world and the conception of society, affects imagination, and has a strong influence on education, learning, and teaching methods. There should be culture-based education in schools. Culture and education complement each other. Both should be given equal importance. Higher education is one of the institutions that has the most impact on culture. When higher education is correctly constructed, it will be able to solve many problems in society. Education spreads different ideas among the masses, facilitates access to science, art, and political events, and equalizes the playing field between the rich and the poor. In today's world, there is competition between different societies. Each country strives for the dissemination of knowledge and the development of its own culture. The role of education, especially higher education, is important for cultural development and the dissemination of knowledge. Education in general and higher education in particular are very important, especially in the construction of a successful society. Social change happens slowly, and education has an important role to play in this change. Education is the most powerful tool for changing people. On the one hand, education culturalizes the individual; on the other hand, it preserves society's culture and provides cultural change as needed. Higher education is a place where different cultures gather, where individuals are influenced by each other and affect society. Academic culture produces and disseminates knowledge. Thus, it affects social structure and culture. However, current education has been developed to respond to economic needs and the dominant production and economic system rather than to meet cultural needs. Education has justified inequalities, trained people to obey, and had no other purpose than to help people become content with their own destiny. Keywords: Higher education, Cultural change, Afghanistan culture