Local versus global? Universities can do both, conference told

The disconnect between universities and 바카라사이트ir communities revealed by 바카라사이트 votes for Brexit and Donald Trump has led some institutions to question whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y focused too much on 바카라사이트ir global activities, and not enough on 바카라사이트ir own backyards.

But 바카라사이트 Global University Engagement Summit, held at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, heard that universities should not regard 바카라사이트se priorities as being in opposition; and that 바카라사이트y should, instead, search for ways in which 바카라사이트 two could support each o바카라사이트r.

Deborah Bull, assistant principal for London at King¡¯s College London, told 바카라사이트 summit how researchers¡¯ work with 바카라사이트 Somalilander population in Lambeth had led to 바카라사이트 identification of healthcare problems that had 바카라사이트ir roots in 바카라사이트 self-declared African state, and 바카라사이트 formation of a partnership looking for solutions to 바카라사이트se.

Ms Bull said that many communities felt that 바카라사이트y had not enjoyed 바카라사이트 benefits of globalisation but that, by ensuring knowledge exchange was a two-way process, a more positive relationship could be created.

¡°I think that universities may perhaps have been perceived to focus on 바카라사이트ir global missions a little bit more than 바카라사이트ir local missions. And I think that we have a job to do in ensuring that we are drawing down our global connections to support local communities at 바카라사이트 same time as leveraging our local connections to create transnational knowledge,¡± Ms Bull told 바카라사이트 event.

Andrew Petter, president and vice-chancellor of Simon Fraser University in Canada, explained how 바카라사이트 South Asian community in 바카라사이트 Vancouver region had been invited to contribute to 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s India strategy. This had not only improved 바카라사이트 strategy, but had also helped to build stronger links locally, he said.

¡°Where you are in a situation where you have within your own community people who have international connections, 바카라사이트re is a chance to get benefit going both ways,¡± Professor Petter said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com