There is a clear misalignment in the actual goals of the three core groups in universities: Administrators, Professors, Students.<p>Administrators want to grow the school budget and increase prestige for themselves and the university. Professors want to do research and make an impact in their field, and to their peers. Students want to be able to get a job and have an interesting experience.<p>In <i>theory</i> all three groups should have as a primary goal the expansion of the circle of knowledge [1] at some level. Administrators by providing a space for professors and students to do that, professors by partly focusing on students&#x27; needs and partly by having separate research periods and Students by expanding their own circles.<p>Reality is, it&#x27;s all about money, just like everything else. Each group is trying to get the most of it so they can do what they want individually. Everyone is a customer in this scenario.<p>[1]<a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;matt.might.net&#x2F;articles&#x2F;phd-school-in-pictures&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;matt.might.net&#x2F;articles&#x2F;phd-school-in-pictures&#x2F;</a>