Inter-institutional Cooperation: The University as Partner in Policy Development

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Presentation by Dr. Robert Melnick for the EWMI G-PAC Conference “Moving Forward: Addressing Georgia’s Policy Needs”

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Inter-institutional Cooperation: The University as Partner in Policy Development

Tbilisi, Georgia: March 22, 2013 Dr. Rob Melnick, Executive Dean and Presidential Professor Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability Arizona State University, U.S.A.

Sometimes expressed as creating:

• Equity

• Efficiency

• Security

• Liberty

• Wealth

The goal of public policy is to improve the well-being and long-term outlook for constituents.

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

But society has limited resources:

human, financial, natural.

How do you determine how to best allocate those resources to achieve policy goals?

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

A crude surrogate for measuring the effectiveness of resource allocation is:

status of economic well-being.

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Policy Target: Competitive Economic Advantage

Old Measure

Low cost

Brawn

Stability

Natural Resources

New Measure

High Quality

Brains

Innovation

Created Resources

So, what accounts for economic well-being (personal income) differences between

rich countries and poor countries?

“The quality of institutions trumps everything else.” Journal of Economic Growth, 9, 2004

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Institutions working together create better and more viable public policies.

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Unfortunately, institutions usually operate as “silos”, despite often having a common interest.

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

NGO

Think Tank Private Higher

Ed Gov

• Government agencies (national, regional, local)

• NGOs, think tanks, advocacy organizations

• Private companies

• Trade associations

• Universities

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Tragedy of the Commons

“Depletion of a shared resource by individuals, acting independently and rationally according to each one's self-interest.”

Garrett Hardin, 1968

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Tragedy of the Commons

“In the tragedy of the commons, individuals pursuing their private objectives cause disastrous consequences for themselves and others.”

American Enterprise Institute, June 27, 2012

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

“Elinor Ostrom deserves the Nobel because she has proved that the commons do not have to end in tragedy.”

Forbes, October 12, 2009

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

• A common set of problems

• Rules

• Assessments

• Accountability

• Respect Governing The Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action, Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom, 1990

Inter-institutional cooperation requires…

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Universities as an institutional partner

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Different perspectives

Most Universities Most Other

Public Institutions

Sense of Urgency

Multi-year Fiscal year, election cycle, now

Boundary Exclusive Inclusive

Primary Mission

Scholarship,

teaching

Improve society, protect, equality

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Public view of U.S. universities?

Current

Slow

Cautious

Exclusive

Inflexible

Compartmentalized

Esoteric

Needed

Fast

Bold

Inclusive

Responsive

Multidisciplinary

Practical

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Evolution of U.S. universities

Era of Righteousness

Era of Knowledge

Era of Innovation

Era of Integration?

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Era of Righteousness

“…for the education and instruction of Youth of the Indian Tribes in this Land”

Dartmouth College mission, 1769

“Vox clamantis in deserto.”

Dartmouth College Motto taken from Gospel of Mark 1:1-3

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

“Universities have been propelled into the center of knowledge production by mass education, academic capitalism, globalization, democratization, the Internet..”

adapted from Universities and the Public Sphere

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Era of Knowledge

Era of Innovation “Between 1/2 and 3/4 of all economic growth in the

last half-century can be tied to technological

innovation. Universities play a vital and extensive role

in driving innovation.”

Universities in Innovation Networks, Holly, Center for American Progress, 2012

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

“Increasingly, the world does not care what you know. Everything is on Google. The world only cares, and will only pay for, what you can do with what you know.” Thomas Friedman, “The Professors Big Stage” New York Times, March 5, 2013

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Era of Integration?

“Do you replicate what exists or do you design what you really need? There are economic, societal and cultural needs not being met.”

Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University, 2006

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Design principles to transform and reinvent universities as better institutional partners

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Supply-driven universities demand-driven universities

Leverage place Embrace the local cultural, institutional and physical setting

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Transform society

Recognize and connect to urgent needs

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Value entrepreneurship Use knowledge to encourage innovation

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Enable access for all Educate the “haves” and “have nots” alike

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Fuse intellectual disciplines Transcend traditional academic boundaries

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Become socially embedded Connect with communities

Be Socially Embedded:

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Engage globally Recognize that the world’s problems affect the locality

Universities as institutional partner: public policy development

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Conduct Use Inspired Research

Business

Which issues to study?

Anticipate policy “obstructions”

Develop solutions

Society/Community Public input as data point

Simplify public issues

Educate on implications

Government Which issues to study?

What data are useful?

Create policy options

Act as “neutral convener”

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Fuse Intellectual Disciplines

Education

Law Sustainability

Engineering

Science Policy

Business

Architecture

& Design

Social Sciences

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Transform society

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Connect to community

Arizona Policy Choices Reports

ASU Community Fellows Program

Young Stewards of Public Policy

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

“Aspirations are the greatest predictor of results.”

Carl Larson

Dr. Rob Melnick, Executive Dean and Presidential Professor Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability Arizona State University, U.S.A.

THANK YOU

Inter-institutional Cooperation: The University as Partner in Policy Development

“We are still tackling 20-year problems with 5-year plans, staffed with 2-year personnel, working with 1-year appropriations.”

Harland Cleveland – Former U.S. Ambassador

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Scholarship of discovery (original research to advance knowledge)

Scholarship of integration (synthesis of information across disciplines)

Scholarship of engagement (application of expertise to produce results)

Scholarship of teaching and learning (requires a format that allows public sharing)

Global Institute of Sustainability/School of Sustainability/Arizona State University

Scholarship Reconsidered, Ernest Boyer, 1990

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