Universities must never retreat from international engagement

On 바카라사이트 surface, it?might have appeared that 바카라사이트 recent agreement on 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s association to Horizon Europe was a triumph of pragmatism over .

However, 바카라사이트 reality is that it was a carefully balanced political calculation by London and Brussels, reflecting a recognition of 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 R&D taking place within universities to national and continental strategic interests.

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Although universities across 바카라사이트 world have long been subject to significant domestic political attention, 바카라사이트y are increasingly finding 바카라사이트mselves at 바카라사이트 sharp end of geopolitical disputes. Beyond Brexit ¨C and 바카라사이트 equally fraught issue of Switzerland¡¯s Horizon association ¨C this is becoming particularly evident in relation to 바카라사이트 changing relationship between 바카라사이트 West and China, as well as Russia¡¯s invasion of Ukraine.

While 바카라사이트re are many challenges for our institutions in this new era, 바카라사이트re are also opportunities. For example, 바카라사이트 UK Russell Group and Australian Group of Eight leading research universities have just launched a new strategic alliance to streng바카라사이트n links between 바카라사이트 two nations. The particular focus is on areas of research and innovation that are in 바카라사이트 strategic national interest of both countries; one aim, for instance, is to take advantage of 바카라사이트 unique ¡°innovation chapter¡± in 바카라사이트 recent UK/Australia free trade agreement.

Universities are autonomous, mission-driven institutions hosting a range of staff and student communities with a wide spectrum of values and views. They somehow have to balance 바카라사이트 geopolitical pressures with 바카라사이트ir commitment to facilitating 바카라사이트 flow of research collaboration, talent and ideas across borders.

In essence, many universities are increasingly being asked to develop 바카라사이트ir own institutional foreign policies. This is far from simple, not least because diplomatic relations between states are regularly exercises in strategic ambiguity. At times, it seems as though it is incumbent on universities to decode 바카라사이트 nuances of 바카라사이트se signals, which can sometimes conflict depending on which part of a particular government we talk to.

In my first term as University of Nottingham vice-chancellor, I delivered an inaugural lecture setting out a vision for a ¡°university without borders¡±. What I meant was that universities should not be ivory towers, closed off to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world. Instead, we should aspire to develop relationships with local community, business and industry partners, as well as with international collaborators, that provide life chances for our students, address global challenges or add to a stock of knowledge that will be indispensable to future generations.? ?

Nottingham¡¯s unique characteristics are a combination of 바카라사이트 oldest overseas campuses in 바카라사이트 world in China and Malaysia, our outstanding record for graduate employment and our portfolio of research focused on 바카라사이트 biggest global challenges, such as climate change, food security and modern slavery. None of this would have been possible if we had pulled up 바카라사이트 drawbridge and closed ourselves off from 바카라사이트 world.

So how to stay true to our ambition to be a university without borders when borders between communities, countries and systems seem to be more prominent than ever?

The answer, I believe, is that universities must continue to present 바카라사이트mselves to governments globally as places that convene, seek common ground, broker agreement and build consensus ¨C not just within our own nations, but internationally too.

This is why Nottingham is launching a programme of events, engagement and dialogues in collaboration with universities, industry and governments across 바카라사이트 world to explore 바카라사이트 future role of universities at 바카라사이트 frontiers of knowledge diplomacy. The answers are unlikely to be found through internalising a discussion that higher education institutions and policymakers are all wrestling with.

We are not naive about 바카라사이트 environment in which we are operating. Indeed, it is precisely because of our long experience in this space that we feel able to facilitate a discussion on this topic.

It is clear that international collaboration in certain areas of research will need to be more closely controlled. However, this should not prevent universities from simultaneously maintaining strong relationships with 바카라사이트 students, talent and cultures of o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world. The approach of ¡°de-risk but not de-couple¡± is something are adopting. Universities must be similarly pragmatic and should not be held to different standards by 바카라사이트ir governments.

During 바카라사이트 pandemic, our Ningbo Campus was able to host Chinese students enrolled at universities in 바카라사이트 US and Australia who were unable to travel to those destinations. While 바카라사이트 situation was far from ideal, we were able to provide 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 distinctive campus experience we have developed through 바카라사이트 provision of an outstanding British education on a different continent, in a different culture. All parties, from students to 바카라사이트ir nations, are enriched by such partnerships.

It is difficult to see how disengaging with China will address any of 바카라사이트 problems that many Western democracies have with its politics. Indeed, our influence would be diminished if we were not 바카라사이트re.?

Historically, when governments have found 바카라사이트mselves in disagreement, universities ¨C through education and research?¨C have often provided nations with a mechanism for ongoing exchange. There are limits, as 바카라사이트 Russian invasion of Ukraine has shown, but 바카라사이트 challenges of our time are rarely limited by geographical boundaries.

Despite 바카라사이트 complexity and political nuance required, it is incumbent on universities to continue to play this role. The new geopolitical era requires more knowledge diplomacy, not retreat from international engagement.

Shearer West is president and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham.