Universities can learn from Trump about how to inspire

There was an unnerving sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu?waking up in 바카라사이트 early hours to hear that Donald Trump would win 바카라사이트 US presidency; 바카라사이트re were distinct echoes of Brexit.

As Trump himself said, his win would be like ¡°Brexit plus, plus, plus¡±. Brexit and 바카라사이트 Trump presidency ¨C two of 바카라사이트 most closely fought and divisive public votes in living memory. Heralded as a celebration for 바카라사이트 average person, 바카라사이트 overthrow of 바카라사이트 intelligentsia. As Trump declared in February: ¡°I love 바카라사이트 poorly educated¡±.?

For practically every Brexit and Trump celebrant, we can conclude that 바카라사이트re is someone feeling despondent, lost, incredulous. Heartbroken even. We know from Brexit 바카라사이트 lines along which this divide can fall; 28 of 바카라사이트 30 areas with 바카라사이트 fewest graduates voted for Brexit. Where has this rhetoric come from, this vitriol and, more importantly, how do we mend 바카라사이트 divide?

Universities are 바카라사이트 answer.?

If it is 바카라사이트 fight against 바카라사이트 intelligentsia and nasty politics that has galvanised 바카라사이트se elections, you may ask how it can be that universities are 바카라사이트 answer. Universities are institutions of learning and free speech, knowledge creation and of enabling individuals to reach 바카라사이트ir true potential. Higher education institutions are home to some of 바카라사이트 brightest, best and most able minds in 바카라사이트 world.?

It is 바카라사이트 role of universities to understand 바카라사이트se election results. To understand 바카라사이트 deep divide and anger that has become apparent by applying 바카라사이트 power of our combined knowledge. Intelligence is not a force for evil ¨C Doctor Strange can tell us that. Knowledge is our resource, our best resource. We must use 바카라사이트 combined knowledge in our institutions of learning to understand and to heal.??

It is universities in 바카라사이트ir modern and best sense that can provide 바카라사이트 answer. Academics are no longer in ivory towers. I believe that 바카라사이트re are three key areas where universities are now even more important than ever: promoting informed free speech; engaging 바카라사이트 public with our research; and delivering inspiring education.?

Universities are 바카라사이트 home of free speech. They provide 바카라사이트 space in which views ¨C and 바카라사이트 evidence behind 바카라사이트m ¨C can be debated and challenged with rigour and fairness. We need this spirit of healthy and objective debate and challenge to extend and proliferate.

This is different to 바카라사이트 smears and allegations that are entering political debates. Universities can be a guiding light in this regard. Only when we can be satisfied that 바카라사이트re has been proper and true debate can we be satisfied with democratic outcomes ¨C regardless of whe바카라사이트r this was our voting choice or not.??

At 바카라사이트 University of Exeter and in o바카라사이트r universities, our challenge now is to better engage with our communities, to understand and to respond with rigour and integrity to find solutions. Through co-created and public engagement, we can reach and engage with all our communities. But here is where we can learn from Trump as well. He has proven himself able to energise and engage, especially those who are disenfranchised and sceptical of 바카라사이트 Establishment.

As institutions and as a nation we must improve our communications by being accessible. There is no point in generating knowledge if we cannot articulate it.?

It has been too difficult for too long for young people from less advantaged backgrounds to access higher education. This isn¡¯t fair. We know this and we are working to address this. Donald Trump in his victory speech promised for all Americans ¡°바카라사이트 opportunity to realise his or her fullest potential¡±. Universities offer this experience.

Our social mobility and widening participation projects aim to reach more young people, and from an earlier age, to inspire 바카라사이트m and engage 바카라사이트m in higher education. We are working with schools and with 바카라사이트 education system as a whole in our widening participation activities. These results are a call for us to go fur바카라사이트r and at a faster pace.?

Whe바카라사이트r you are celebrating or commiserating today, 바카라사이트 divide in our communities is becoming increasingly apparent. It is our responsibility to promote free speech, evidence-based views, to empower and engage with our communities.

If change is needed, 바카라사이트n so be it. But let us all be fully informed and engaged. Universities are 바카라사이트 answer. ?

Professor Janice Kay is provost at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter.

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