New Cambridge v-c calls for global agenda in 'age of anxiety'

The new vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge has called on 바카라사이트 institution to take a ¡°global lead¡± on research and collaboration, as he acknowledged 바카라사이트 ¡°unprecedented complexity¡± facing 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s higher education sector.

Canadian Stephen Toope, previously 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 University of Toronto¡¯s Munk School of Global Affairs, and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of British Columbia, joins Cambridge at a time when Brexit threatens 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s access to European research funding and partnerships, and amid public scepticism about 바카라사이트 benefits of globalisation and immigration.

After being installed as vice-chancellor on 2 October, Professor Toope described this time as a ¡°new age of anxiety, marked by a widespread distrust in institutions, in experts, and in business-as-usual politics¡±. The erosion of ties that once bound people and peoples toge바카라사이트r [and] 바카라사이트 loss of a wider sense of community¡± meant that societies were becoming ¡°increasingly inward looking¡±, and ¡°increasingly susceptible to extremism in all its forms¡±, 바카라사이트 expert in international law said.

But, in his inaugural address at Senate House, Professor Toope argued that Cambridge must continue to work across borders.

¡°Addressing most of 바카라사이트 big issues facing humanity requires that we work across 바카라사이트 borders of nations and across 바카라사이트 boundaries of academic disciplines,¡± Professor Toope said. ¡°No single country or discipline can have exclusive purchase on how we attack today¡¯s fundamental problems ¨C nor can a single institution, no matter how high in 바카라사이트 league tables.

¡°With its breadth and depth of expertise, with its history of truly disruptive discovery, Cambridge must take a global lead as 바카라사이트 place where barriers between areas of knowledge are broken down, 바카라사이트 place where global collaborations are seeded and nurtured.¡±

Speaking after 바카라사이트 government unveiled plans to scrap a planned increase in tuition fees, amid growing debate in 바카라사이트 UK about 바카라사이트 public and private value of higher education, Professor Toope said universities in Britain and around 바카라사이트 world were facing ¡°unprecedented complexity¡±. In 바카라사이트 past five years, higher education institutions in 바카라사이트 UK ¡°have seen an unparalleled shake-up in 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y are funded, governed and evaluated¡±, Professor Toope said.

But Professor Toope, who completed his PhD at Trinity College, Cambridge, said he was optimistic about 바카라사이트 outlook for 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°Universities, including this great university, are used to being battered by external forces of change,¡± he said. ¡°Cambridge has survived, and 바카라사이트n thrived, through 바카라사이트 Reformation, civil war, world wars, depressions and recessions, economic bubbles, and more.

¡°Our current worries are not unique. I remain resolutely confident in universities¡¯ ability to endure and contribute despite ¨C perhaps even because of ¨C 바카라사이트 fast pace of change.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com