How do we make research in the higher education locally relevant but globally competitive?
Description / Descripción
How do you think this dilemma developed?
There are several factors contributing to this dilemma but I will focus on three which is declining resources (national influence), maintaining global aspirations through rankings (international influence) and finally publish or perish (Internal influence). Currently in the higher education sector especially in resource constrained countries there is a decline in public resources for higher education institutions. Aligned to this is the need for universities to be locally relevant in addressing the needs of society but simultaneously maintaining the global rankings. Finally higher education institutions frequently use the number of publications as a measure of competency. Thus there are various factors that have contributed to this dilemma.
Why is the dilemma of interest to you?
Generally society recognises universities as the main managers of the official knowledge production process but the poor in society sees universities as an ivory tower. At the same time universities are simultaneously called on to become more active players in their communities, whilst responding to global influences by the phenomena of global competition. It is my view that the notion of the engaged university is that we need to consider the needs of the local community and society and thus it is important to have the discussion about how do we find the balance between being locally relevant and globally competitive.
How can a multidisciplinary approach be useful in dealing with this dilemma?
Firstly there is a need to create a good nexus between research and teaching and learning and community engagement. Thus an increase in interdisciplinary opportunities will assist in developing the T-shaped university, T-shaped academic and researcher and the T-shape student which ultimately influences the community. T-shaped meaning that the vertical arm can help us ground ourselves in the locally relevant but by spreading our arms through collaborations and networks, we can become globally competitive.
How do we make research in the higher education locally relevant but globally competitive?
Marc Pavillion
How do you think this dilemma developed?
There are several factors contributing to this dilemma but I will focus on three which is declining resources (national influence), maintaining global aspirations through rankings (international influence) and finally publish or perish (Internal influence). Currently in the higher education sector especially in resource constrained countries there is a decline in public resources for higher education institutions. Aligned to this is the need for universities to be locally relevant in addressing the needs of society but simultaneously maintaining the global rankings. Finally higher education institutions frequently use the number of publications as a measure of competency. Thus there are various factors that have contributed to this dilemma.
Why is the dilemma of interest to you?
Generally society recognises universities as the main managers of the official knowledge production process but the poor in society sees universities as an ivory tower. At the same time universities are simultaneously called on to become more active players in their communities, whilst responding to global influences by the phenomena of global competition. It is my view that the notion of the engaged university is that we need to consider the needs of the local community and society and thus it is important to have the discussion about how do we find the balance between being locally relevant and globally competitive.
How can a multidisciplinary approach be useful in dealing with this dilemma?
Firstly there is a need to create a good nexus between research and teaching and learning and community engagement. Thus an increase in interdisciplinary opportunities will assist in developing the T-shaped university, T-shaped academic and researcher and the T-shape student which ultimately influences the community. T-shaped meaning that the vertical arm can help us ground ourselves in the locally relevant but by spreading our arms through collaborations and networks, we can become globally competitive.