Edited by: Prof. Ronaldo Munck & Prof. Kathryn Mohrman

“Business as usual" is no longer a viable way of running a 21st Century university. The impact of globalization, the growing complexity of the university mission and the still uncertain impact of the 2008/09 global recession all point towards a future characterised by uncertainty. Against the pessimistic scenario, however, we can discern some good reasons for optimism in regards to the university re-inventing itself for the new millennium. This book demonstrates the need for the modern university to move beyond narrow disciplinary boundaries and to become more socially embedded in order to succeed in the current competitive climate. The universities are uniquely positioned to bridge the needs of the citizen and the emerging technologies in a democratic and participatory manner. Science and technology is leaping ahead at an unprecedented pace due to globalisation, but often social needs and human ethics are not to the fore. While universities cannot retreat to an ‘ivory tower’ which no longer exists, they can engage with technology and the market to help make science serve social need and advance democratic citizenship in a most turbulent global era.

Contents:

 

Introduction: Current Crises and Future Thinking

Prof. Ronaldo Munck, Head of Civic and Global Engagement, DCU and Prof. Kathryn Mohrman, Director University Design Consortium, ASU

 

Part 1: Strategic Dilemmas

 

Chapter 1: Renewing the Idea of a University

Prof. Ferdinand von Prondzynski, President, Dublin City University

Chapter 2: Re-conceptualizing Universities as Knowledge Enterprises: Toward Innovation, Differentiation and Adoption

Prof. Michael M. Crow, President, Arizona State University

 

Chapter 3: Knowledge Power - Ambition and Reach in a Re-Invented University

Prof. Sir Alan Wilson, Professor of Urban and Regional Systems, University College London.

 

Chapter 4: The Future University - Foresight in Practice

Prof. Ronaldo Munck, Head of Civic and Global Engagement and Dr Declan Raftery, Director of Research Support Services, Dublin City University

 

Part 2: Policy and Innovation

 

Chapter 5: Are Irish Universities Organised to Meet the Demands of Universal Access?

Mr Tom Boland, Chief Executive, Higher Education Authority, Ireland

 

Chapter 6: The Economics of Higher Education - Beyond a Zero-Sum Game

Prof. Colm Harmon, Director, Geary Institute, University College Dublin   

 

Chapter 7: The University and the Business World - An Uneasy Alliance

Mr Tony Donohoe, Head of Education and Innovation Policy, IBEC

 

Chapter 8: Creating Value and Significance for the 21st Century

Dr William Harris, Director, Science Foundation of Arizona

 

Chapter 9: Re-positioning the University: The Role of Cultural Institutions

Dr John Hegarty, Provost, Trinity College Dublin

 

Part 3: Social Values

 

Chapter 10: Sustaining Social Embededness

Professor Debra Friedman, University Vice President and Dean, College of Public Programs, Arizona State University

 

Chapter 11: Civic Engagement - Core Business or Add-on?

Dr. Deiric O’Broin, NorDubCo   

 

Chapter 12: Students - Consumers or Citizens?

Mr Steven Conlon, Student at Dublin City University

 

Chapter 13: Our Crisis; Whose Opportunity?

Dr Iain Mc Labhrainn, Director, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, National University of Ireland, Galway.

 

About the Contributing Authors:  

 

Professor Kathryn Mohrman is the Director of the University Design Consortium and a faculty member in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University, USA

 

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, was president of Dublin City University, Ireland from 2000 to 2010.

 

Professor Michael M. Crow is President of Arizona State University, USA.

 

Professor Sir Alan Wilson is Professor of Urban and Regional Systems at University College London, England.

 

Professor Ronaldo Munck is Head of Civic and Global Engagement at Dublin City University, Ireland

 

Dr Declan Raftery is Director of Office of the Vice President for Research at Dublin City University, Ireland

 

Mr Tom Boland is Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) of Ireland

 

Professor Colm Harmon is Director of the Geary Institute at University College Dublin, Ireland

 

Mr Tony Donohue is Head of Education and Innovation Policy at the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) Ireland

 

Dr Bill Harris is Director of Science Foundation Arizona (SFA) and is former director general of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

 

Dr John Hegarty is Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

 

Professor Debra Friedman is Vice President at Arizona State University, USA

 

Dr. Deiric O’Broin is Director of NorDubCo, a regional think tank based in Dublin City University, and a lecturer in regional development at the Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland.

 

Mr Steven Conlon is a student at Dublin City University, and a regularly published journalist.

 

Dr. Iain Mac Labhrainn is Director of the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at the National University of Ireland, Galway