Kingdom of Ideas — Without a King?

As I am on the cusp of entering a new phase in my life—entering undergraduate school—I wonder what such an institution means to society at large.
 
Is it an empire of ideas? Without an emperor. Or a kingdom of ideas? Without a king.
 
Yes, I would call it a kingdom of ideas—and not having a king is sacrosanct to its ethos and sustained prevalence over centuries.
 
Before there was an institution such as “university,” most places of study were intertwined with places of worship or apart of the theological system. Training to be a priest in the Christian world, or in the Islamic world, children studying in Madrassa—learning Islamic philosophy.
 
A shift took place during the year 1088—multiple scholars got together and formed a formal structural institution for education—without the shackles of indigenous religiosity but a scientific approach to education.
 
It was how, in current times, we perceive “university” to be.
 
A community of scholars. Not priests.
 
The University of Bologna in Italy. Yes, for the benefit of doubt, it is not completely as prudent as institutions that prevail in the current times. However, it was a steppingstone—in giving astronomical impetus to intellectual movements in Europe.
 
It is a matter of fact that secular, independent, and academic-focused institutions around the world since their inception have had an effect that can never be discounted and ignored.
 
From ideas, theories, and inventions—the people behind them were a part
of this very institution called a “university.”.
 
Like Copernicus, who developed the heliocentric theory—challenging the Vatican City. Galileo, the “father of modern physics.” Newton, producing one of the most pivotal scientific papers whilst at Cambridge—The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Einstein, developing the theory of relativity. Darwin, presenting the theory of evolution. And Turing, laying the foundation for what is known now to be computer science.
 
What is common among all of them? They were a part of the community of “scholars”—a university.
 
The institution should continue with its original modus operandi—a place for thinkers, debaters, and changemakers—without the intervention by society, negative peddlers, and bad money—these factors deprive it of an important element to its success—”independence.”
 
The chance to be a part of this kingdom should not be just for the sake of societal norms.
 
Cherish its ideals we must; continue its existence we shall.