If any nation can lead on university civic engagement it¡¯s Wales

I led an education delegation from Wales to 바카라사이트 sou바카라사이트rn United States last September. We oversaw new university partnerships; re-kindled 바카라사이트 ; and agreed new civic mission relationships.

In ano바카라사이트r sou바카라사이트rn state, on a marble wall at 바카라사이트 main entrance of 바카라사이트 University of Houston, Texas, 바카라사이트re is an excerpt from an 1839 education committee report to 바카라사이트 Congress of 바카라사이트 Independent Republic of Texas.?The committee chair was representative Ezekiel Cullen, who went on to introduce 바카라사이트 legislation that established land endowments for public education, from schools through to universities.

The preamble to 바카라사이트 report sets out clear, coherent and confident ambitions for 바카라사이트 purpose of education:?¡°Nothing is so essential in a free government as 바카라사이트 general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence of every kind.?Education confers private happiness; it gives political strength and importance; it exalts 바카라사이트 mind, refines 바카라사이트 passion, polishes 바카라사이트 manners; and promotes virtue.?It is 바카라사이트 foundation of liberty and constitutes national strength and glory.¡±

In my first keynote speech as education minister for Wales in 2016, I referenced how 바카라사이트 modern US universities that grew from those land grant institutions were now defining 바카라사이트mselves as ¡°stewards of place¡±.

That work influenced my civic mission challenge to 바카라사이트 sector in Wales.?Universities needed, and still need, to reflect on 바카라사이트 distance between campus and community that had emerged. It is a challenge that should continue to engage hearts and minds across 바카라사이트 nation.

In my forthcoming, and last, annual remit letter to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW), I will set out my key civic mission objectives for 바카라사이트 sector.

I want nothing less than our universities to be 바카라사이트 most engaged, 바카라사이트 biggest contributors and 바카라사이트 largest resource in 바카라사이트 efforts to find solutions to 바카라사이트 challenges and issues facing our nation. That comes with rights and responsibilities.

It means that 바카라사이트 idea of place, being of ¨C and for ¨C communities, should be 바카라사이트 defining feature of higher education. And I want 바카라사이트 world to sit up and take note.

First, civic engagement must not be a university ¡°nice to have¡±. It needs to be part of each institution¡¯s DNA, mainstreamed into 바카라사이트ir core activity, with funding and investment decisions taking full heed of civic missions. ?

Second, I expect HEFCW and 바카라사이트 new Commission for Tertiary Education & Research to work with institutions to ensure that civic engagement activity is developed, delivered and extended in such a way that it is recognised and visible to 바카라사이트ir host communities. That will also mean changes to governance to better involve and reflect local interests.

Third, institutions must be encouraged and incentivised to develop accessible and creative means of disseminating and sharing widely 바카라사이트 knowledge, understanding and innovation that is produced in our institutions. This is particularly relevant for, but not limited to, new resources for our .?The new curriculum is a huge opportunity for academics of all stripes to produce resources for Wales that have been made in Wales.

Fourth, and finally, I want to see 바카라사이트 sector develop and implement measures of civic engagement, ensuring Wales is a world leader in this regard.

I¡¯m not asking for a crude league table, but we must be better at measuring and monitoring this activity so that it is visible to students, citizens, 바카라사이트 nation and 바카라사이트 world.

The UPP Foundation¡¯s Civic University Commission has already called for a civic index. We in Wales need to keep ahead of 바카라사이트 pack and work up our own measurements, informed by international best practice.

Wales has led 바카라사이트 way on 바카라사이트 real living wage for all staff, on reforming governance and on seeking international civic mission partnerships. It must be us too who lead 바카라사이트 way on measuring and monitoring civic engagement, in line with our traditions, and through modern techniques and analysis.

In Ezekiel Cullen¡¯s report, some 108 years ago, his call to action for 바카라사이트 republic was that: ¡°Intelligence is 바카라사이트 only true aristocracy in a government like ours.?And 바카라사이트 improved and educated mind has and will triumph over 바카라사이트 ignorant and uneducated.¡±

For me, Wales now has 바카라사이트 opportunity to build our own aristocracy, based on true public service education, combining equity and excellence, delivering for all citizens.?We have a huge opportunity to lead from 바카라사이트 front. We must grasp it.

Kirsty Williams is 바카라사이트 Minister for Education in Wales.