ABSTRACT
The association of the collegiate tradition with ancient institutions of learning, most notably the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, could create the dangerous impression that the idea of collegiality is immutable. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even the most cursory glance at the histories of Oxford and Cambridge reveals that, while colleges may have existed for centuries, the collegial tradition has evolved over time. Indeed, institutions which exist to fulfil important social functions have little choice but to adapt to the pace of societal change, and those which fail to do so will either be marginalised or perish.
