The article analyzes the functions of serving society, their historical patterns of origin, factors of influence, motives and main forms of implementation during the 19 – early 20 century by the first universities of Dnipro Ukraine – universities of Kharkiv, Kyiv and Odesa. The study revealed that the peculiarities of the beginning of mutual influence and the first signs of cooperation of the universities of Dnipro Ukraine with local communities and society of that time are closely related to the process of their creation and the first steps of the relevant higher education institutions.The study showed that the establishment of the universities in Kharkiv and Odesa was dictated by the various political and economic conditions expressed by the desires of the local communities and administrations, that were caused by the rapid socio-economic development of cities and awareness of the need for qualified education. The decision to establish a university in Kyiv had a strong political and ideological nature and was made after the Russian Empire suppressed the Polish national uprising to establish an educational institution in the western part of the empire in order to counter the Polish educational tradition. Instead, the function of serving universities to society was successfully realized thanks to the private initiative of the teaching staff of the universities of Kharkiv, Kyiv and Odesa in the following forms: a) formation of a "professorial lifestyle", which was based on a certain corporate ethnic group; b) organization of act speeches for university researchers and the local community; c) giving public lectures; d) organization of scientific readings; e) involvement of teachers and women in conduction of scientific courses; f) participation in the reform of school education; g) writing textbooks for gymnasiums, schools and colleges; g) organization of environmental, museum and library activities; h) publication of scientific, scientific-methodical and popular science periodicals and continuing publications; i) direct participation in the preparation and implementation of socio-economic reforms

university, Dnipro Ukraine, function of service to society, cooperation with local communities, forms of realization of function of service to society