1. Universities and Cities at the Crossroads A Valedictory Lecture By Professor John Ratcliffe October 7th 2009 Transformation Catastrophe Evolution
2. THE GREAT DISRUPTION: New endings and new beginnings “Genuine beginnings begin within us, even when they are brought to our attention by external opportunities”…William Bridges
3. THE dream “The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by sceptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were.”John F. Kennedy
5. Harbingers of change A Confluence of Powerful Trends Problems Seem Increasingly Intractable The Demographics of Discord The New Players The Problems Are Structural “Just because everything is different doesn't mean anything has changed.” Irene Peter
6. Twenty one 21st century challenges Not Enough Resources Are We Connected? Détente With Dilemma Running The Show Economics Are Complex Sustainable Cities: An Oxymoron Out Of Our Minds The Great Leap Downward Sharing And Collaborating What’s The Risk? Redefining The Enemy The Smart Workplace It Takes Time Benefitting From Synchronicity Too Many People Doing Well By Doing Good There Will Be New Technologies The Green Quotient Power On Earth There Will Be Surprises From Obligation To Opportunity “I never think of the future, it comes soon enough” Albert Einstein
7. The main difference that distinguishes the 21st century from those that preceded it is the need to create a mindset that can tackle the conscious design of large systems
8. The City In Transformation QUALITY OF LIFE: People, Places & Profiles COMPETITIVENESS: Creativity, Knowledge & Enterprise SUSTAINABILITY: Principles & Prospects GOVERNANCE: Values, Vision & Leadership CONNECTIVITY: Communications, Infrastructure & Facilities “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”… Warren G. Bennis
9. The University In Transition Values, Visions & Vectors Governance, Leadership & Management Delivery, Deployment & Diversity Global, National & Local Perspectives Colleges, Communities & Cities Welfare – Truth - Order & Freedom - What Is Good - Beauty
10. Prospects for universities in 2020 (Made in 2000) Higher education is really big global business Many corporations look like universities Many universities look like corporations Some universities taken over by corporations Universities emulate major retailers Mega merger of universities Mega universities will arise Much research will be collaborative Knowledge partnership will grow Elite group of World Best Universities
11. Prospects for universities in 2020 (Made in 2000) City universities will emerge Management structures mirror Microsoft Look at MIT – remember OU Cost: Irrelevance-ignorance-consciousness-(value + worth) The West Report 1997: Global alliance for learning FE colleges moved into I + E Academic staff: Stars-Counsellors-Programme managers Funding based on student Student population profile ageing Global accreditation will count Blend of leisure, entertainment and education
12. New Scenarios For Universities New frontiers in research Public Service Decreasing funding An Increasingly complex environment for higher education institutions: Challenges for institutional leaders Pressure for rankings Governance Increased accountability Market pressures What and how to teach? (Prof. John Goddard) “The unusual and the unknown make us either over confident or overly fearful”… Gaius Julius Caesar
13. Higher Education Drivers “Science investigates religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power religion gives man wisdom which is control.”… Martin Luther King, Jr.
14. A Research Intensive University? “Today knowledge has power. It controls access to opportunity and advancement.” Peter Drucker
15. A mixed economy University? “The goal of education is the advancement of knowledge and the dissemination of truth.” John F. Kennedy
16. A Civic University? “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” Albert Einstein
19. The need for a strategic foresight unit “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Peter Drucker
20. The Century of Knowledge Cities Political Will Strategic Vision Strong Investment Promotional Agencies Multi-Ethnicity Metropolitan Website Value Creation To Citizens Urban Innovation Engines Knowledge Society Rights Low Cost ICT Access Research Excellence Public Libraries Network “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”… Albert Einstein
21. Knowledge Cities Dublin? “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”… Benjamin Franklin
22. The Knowledge Village Grangegorman? “The empires of the future are the empires of the mind”… Winston Churchill
24. Sustainability: DIT’s Grand Challenge A City To Transform Dynamic Expertise Transcendent Partnerships Sustainable Challenges - Environmental - Organisational - Scientific - Cultural Embedding & Engaging Strategy “Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.” Kofi Annan
25. Necessary attitudes and attributes Awareness & Values Wholeness & Systems Preparedness & Futures Resilience & Adaptability Mindset & Reflexivity “These things will destroy the human race: politics without principle, progress without compassion, wealth without work, learning without silence, religion without fearlessness and worship without awareness.”… Anthony de Mello
26. “A Vision Without A Task Is But A Dream, A Task Without A Vision Is Drudgery, A Vision With A Task Is The Hope Of The World” (Inscription On A Church, Sussex, England, 1730) “No Problem Can Be Solved From The Same Level Of Consciousness That Created It. We Must Learn To See The World Anew” (Albert Einstein)
