Book Launch and Panel Discussion: Inequality, Innovation and Reform in Higher Education

A new book edited by the Director of HERC, Professor Maria Slowey with Hans Schuetze (Emeritus Professor, University of British Columbia)  and Tanya Zubrzycki (HERC) was launched online on 29th of September, 2020.

Titled ‘Inequality, Innovation and Reform in Higher Education: Challenges of Migration and Ageing Populations’ (Springer 2020) the book addresses two important, and interrelated, socio-demographic challenges with significant implications for access to higher education. On the one hand, increasing longevity and ageing populations and, on the other, current patterns of mobility associated with mass migration, whether forced or by choice.

The event was opened by Professor Daire Keogh, President, Dublin City University. In his remarks Professor Keogh welcomed participants from over 20 countries, and congratulated all involved with the book. He highlighted major issues confronting contemporary societies, and the potential role which higher education institutions might play in helping address these. He emphasised that, by their own behaviour universities can act as ‘exemplars of good citizenship and social responsibility’ supporting the academic community to address some of the fundamental challenges presented by the matters discussed in the book through intellectual and moral leadership.

The event was chaired by Professor Maria Slowey who highlighted the  global approach chosen by the editors and thanked the book contributors – leading scholars of higher education, lifelong learning and adult education based in twelve countries from four continents: Europe (Germany, Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom); North and South America (Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the USA); South-East Asia (Japan); Australia and New Zealand.

Three panellists offered their reflections on the themes of the book:  Pavel Zgaga, Professor of Education, University of Ljubljana; Gaële Goastellec, Professor of Sociology, University of Lausanne; and Tom Schuller, former Head of the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, OECD and author of The Paula Principle: how women lose out at work and what needs to be done about it.

The core concerns discussed by the panel can be viewed as two sides of a coin: on the one side, many global regions and countries are experiencing unprecedented levels of immigration (or internal migration) as millions of people seek to relocate- whether by choice or for survival. On the other side, with increasing longevity -particularly, but not only- in the richer parts of the world many countries are experiencing significant ageing of their populations.

The open format of this Zoom online event facilitated a lively Q&A session with discussions focusing on redefining the concept of lifelong learning, the difference between lifelong learning and recurrent educational concepts, as well as the lack of inclusion of marginalised groups – and how the educational leaders can impact and change institutional missions towards the impoverished, disenfranchised and people with relatively lower educational levels.

The book is published as part of Springer Lifelong Learning Book Series and is designed to be of interest to a range of colleagues including: policy makers; education and training providers; trade unions; employers; and individuals.

The book and individual chapters are available from libraries and on the Springer website:

https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783030282264.