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

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?


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

status of economic well-being.



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


Institutions working together create better and more viable public policies.


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


NGO

Think Tank Private Higher

Ed Gov

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=dm48uelYdnPU_M&tbnid=KMOqTwm7Nye9EM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://blog.daum.net/_blog/hdn/ArticleContentsView.do?blogid=0TCBj&articleno=9&looping=0&longOpen=&ei=CllBUY33K6Xu2QXC1IHQBg&psig=AFQjCNHJRaW2Ivv1H28qN_3HfPxS1RO-5Q&ust=1363323499091313

• Government agencies (national, regional, local)

• NGOs, think tanks, advocacy organizations

• Private companies

• Trade associations

• Universities


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


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


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

Forbes, October 12, 2009


• 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…


Universities as an institutional partner


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


Public view of U.S. universities?

Current

Slow

Cautious

Exclusive

Inflexible

Compartmentalized

Esoteric

Needed

Fast

Bold

Inclusive

Responsive

Multidisciplinary

Practical


Evolution of U.S. universities

Era of Righteousness

Era of Knowledge

Era of Innovation

Era of Integration?


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


“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


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


“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


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


Design principles to transform and reinvent universities as better institutional partners


Supply-driven universities demand-driven universities

Leverage place Embrace the local cultural, institutional and physical setting


Transform society

Recognize and connect to urgent needs


Value entrepreneurship Use knowledge to encourage innovation



Conduct use-inspired research

Pursue research that has purpose and impact

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=QAAT-TStNitQfM&tbnid=j8JmAZ5vGstsZM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://arizonaexperience.org/innovate/solar-energy&ei=XmtBUdmkEavs2AW31oDQBQ&bvm=bv.43828540,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNHMP-rwN9mrb_Mq1tzO7HgbhgaoVw&ust=1363328169253739

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=5vO0rzvMlq7-PM&tbnid=CVlUzwmUo_r2-M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://biofuels.asu.edu/about.shtml&ei=MWtBUYnRGYeo2gWnv4HQAw&bvm=bv.43828540,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNHMP-rwN9mrb_Mq1tzO7HgbhgaoVw&ust=1363328169253739

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=N4LCMjzUvgt2bM&tbnid=HtaoJT9GOHKwxM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://fullcircle.asu.edu/2012/12/robotics-competition-inspires-youngsters-to-be-self-educators/&ei=9WtBUc_HGKGo2wXL4oAw&bvm=bv.43828540,d.b2I&psig=AFQjCNHMP-rwN9mrb_Mq1tzO7HgbhgaoVw&ust=1363328169253739


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


Fuse intellectual disciplines Transcend traditional academic boundaries


Become socially embedded Connect with communities

Be Socially Embedded:


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

Universities as institutional partner: public policy development


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”


Fuse Intellectual Disciplines

Education

Law Sustainability

Engineering

Science Policy

Business

Architecture

& Design

Social Sciences


Transform society


Connect to community

Arizona Policy Choices Reports

ASU Community Fellows Program

Young Stewards of Public Policy


“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


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)


Scholarship Reconsidered, Ernest Boyer, 1990

Documents

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