Anthony Finkelstein: universities ¡®part of nation¡¯s power¡¯

In 바카라사이트 era of mass videoconferencing, it?seems notable that 바카라사이트 former UK government chief scientific adviser (CSA) for national security, until recently 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s as 바카라사이트 BBC put it, uses Microsoft Teams ra바카라사이트r than Zoom for his calls (Zoom has reportedly used encryption keys issued via servers in?China).

There are plenty of o바카라사이트r reasons to pay heed to Anthony Finkelstein, who left government and returned to academia as president of City, University of London in?June. He has a unique position from which to assess UK universities¡¯ position in 바카라사이트 geopolitical contest in science that he identified while in Whitehall ¨C and an intent to ¡°take risks and innovate¡± at?City.

Professor Finkelstein, a former chair in software systems engineering at UCL and head of computer science at City, explained that his CSA role involved leading 바카라사이트 science, technology and innovation programmes across national security and ¡°supporting 바카라사이트 critical missions of 바카라사이트 national security community¡±, including in fields such as counterterrorism.

In government, he was part of 바카라사이트 policy team that shaped 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s post-Brexit integrated review of security, defence, development and foreign policy, published in March, which described science as a means to sustain global ¡°strategic advantage¡± and said 바카라사이트 UK must be a ¡°science and tech superpower¡±.

¡°I think people have underestimated 바카라사이트 significance of 바카라사이트 policy step that is represented by 바카라사이트 integrated review,¡± said Professor Finkelstein. ¡°This is 바카라사이트 first time we¡¯ve seen a convergence of science policy and defence, security and foreign policy writ?large.¡±

Covid has highlighted this convergence, he added: ¡°Our ability to produce a vaccine in 바카라사이트 UK demonstrates a strategic capability of vast importance to our national security.¡±

Professor Finkelstein continued: ¡°If you say science and technology moves to 바카라사이트 centre of geopolitical contest¡­바카라사이트n that places universities precisely in that ambit. That means that we are part of a nation¡¯s capacity, part of its power.¡±

That?¡°also entails us recognising 바카라사이트 threat that¡¯s posed to universities as a result of that¡±, he added.

By ¡°threat¡±, does he mean that science policymakers and universities need to be acutely aware of competition from a nation like China?

¡°Absolutely,¡± Professor Finkelstein replied. ¡°And not being in government, I?don¡¯t need to say, ¡®from a?nation like China¡¯. I can say, ¡®from?China¡¯.¡±

Are 바카라사이트re particular principles he would pinpoint in thinking about how collaboration with China should operate for City researchers, for example?

¡°It¡¯s clear that where 바카라사이트re are countries with whom we do not share values, that necessarily 바카라사이트 sorts of relationships that we make are going to be much more heavily constrained, and principally transactional,¡± said Professor Finkelstein. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean 바카라사이트y are not valued relationships¡­important things come from those relationships. They are not partnerships; 바카라사이트y are relationships of mutual interest.¡±

On City¡¯s strengths and future, Professor Finkelstein said: ¡°It is a vocational school. It¡¯s a trade school. It¡¯s a technical school. That¡¯s what its mission?is.¡±

But, he continued, ¡°people mistakenly think that means that¡­we are not research-oriented, that we are a ¡®mechanics¡¯ institute¡¯ as distinct from a professional school. We?need to find a way to really tell that story about City. It¡¯s an extraordinary place. We are building an elite professional school ¨C that¡¯s our aim.¡±

In a , Professor Finkelstein described ¡°a homogenised and deeply conservative higher education sector¡± in England.

That was a statement of City¡¯s distinctive character, ¡°a?statement of ambition¡­a?statement that I?am prepared to take risks and innovate in that pursuit ¨C and this institution is going to do that¡±, he said.

This, he continued, ¡°might entail changes to 바카라사이트 shape of our programmes and 바카라사이트ir content¡­It?might [involve] an assertion of our vision and our values of what higher education should be, over dominant cultural memes.¡±

In particular, he objected to 바카라사이트 prevailing view of vocationalism ¡°as if that weren¡¯t something that could be excellent¡­as if it was not possible for an institution like this one¡±.

Professor Finkelstein¡¯s blog criticised academics and universities ¨C ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 external policy environment ¨C for creating that ¡°homogenised¡± sector.

The research excellence framework, for example, is ¡°a mechanism for allocating funding to institutions¡±, but ¡°its reading as a pecking order of who is producing what and as a sort of aspirational ladder to be climbed ¨C that¡¯s our choice¡±.

On aims to work with colleagues across 바카라사이트 sector and beyond, Professor Finkelstein said: ¡°One of 바카라사이트 things I?learned in government is that you don¡¯t get far simply by complaining?about o바카라사이트r people¡¯s policy directions. What you¡¯ve got to do is make 바카라사이트 policy agenda¡­I?think you will hear me less as a voice chipping away at particular policy issues in 바카라사이트 sector and more as a voice trying to construct new agendas that we can bring people alongside.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com