The Fifth Function of University: “Neutrosophic E-function” of Communication-Collaboration-Integration of University in the Information Age

The study is based on the following hypothesis with practical foundation:- Premise 1- if two members of university on two continents meet on the Internet and initiate interdisciplinary scientific communication;- Premise 2- subsequently, if within the curricular interests they develop an academic scientific collaboration;- Premise 3- if the so-called collaboration integrates the interests of other members of the university;- Premise 4- finally, if the university allows, accepts, validates and promotes such an approach;- Conclusion: then it means the university as a system (the global academic system) has, and it is, exerting a potential function to provide communication, collaboration and integration of research and of academic scientific experience. We call this function of the university “neutrosophic e-function ” because it mixes heterogeneous notions. It is specialized, according to the functions of “teaching-learning, researching, the public interest and entrepreneurial interest, ” as the fifth function. As the other four have structured and shaped university paradigms, this one configures one as well. E-function makes visible a functional structure in a scientific scan: the communicative-collaborative-integrative paradigm. Beyond the practical and inferential logic arguments, the research bases the hypothesis on historical and systemic-operational arguments. The foundation consists of the fundamental contributions of some academics (Y. Takahara, C.