How can universities contribute more to the wellbeing of society?
Between 23-26th September researchers from different regions of the world gathered in Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Baltimore, USA, to exchange experiences and evidence on enhancing the contribution that universities and other institutions of higher education might make to the benefit of their communities and wider society. The 15th Higher Education Reform Conference Reinventing the Public Mission of Universities: policies and practices was hosted by Professor Christopher Morphew, Dean of the School of Education, Professor Antigoni Papadimitriou, Conference Chair, and other JHU colleagues. Speakers were drawn from countries with different historical, cultural and economic traditions of higher education, including: Brazil, Canada, China, Ethiopia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, The Philippines, Pakistan, Slovenia, South Africa and the USA.
The intensive format of the Higher Education Reform (HER) series (previously hosted by HERC in 2016) is designed to encourage discussion and extensive exploration of contemporary issues in higher education. Speaking in the opening session on behalf of the International Scientific Committee, the Director of HERC, Professor Maria Slowey, highlighted the timely nature of the theme in the context of competing expectations of the role universities can, and should, play in contributing to wider societal good. Her keynote speech on the second day addressed conceptual issues, illustrated with practical examples of innovative developments at European, national and institutional levels. Conference speakers covered a wide range of topics, ranging from the role of research universities such as JHU in working to improve the situation of local communities with high levels of deprivation - considering the educational, social, health and physical environments - through to medical and other health professionals working at a global level in communities in situations of conflict, such as Syria.
Details of the programme are available at http://edpolicy.education.jhu.edu/ and a selection of full papers will be published in due course.
Photo above, left to right: Professor Christopher Morphew, Dean, School of Education, JHU; Dr Ratna Sarkar, vice provost for institutional research JHU; Professor Maria Slowey, Director of HERC, DCU; Professor Antigoni Papadimitriou, Conference Chair, Johns Hopkins School of Education; Professor Matthew Hartley, Associate Dean, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania.
Photo below: Delegates of the 15th Higher Education Reform Conference in ohns Hopkins University (JHU) Baltimore, USA
