A New Imperative ― Regions and Higher Education in Difficult Times

At a time in history when global challenges are becoming more intractable and threatening, it makes sense to draw on the specialist expertise of our universities. Much of government interest in doing so has typically focused on the major research institutions with their records of new discovery and invention. However, there is extensive evidence that the greatest opportunities are at regional level. Despite globalisation, regions are becoming more and more important as sites of identity and of policy intervention. Regions can take their futures into their own hands, and their local universities are a crucial resource of expertise to support these initiatives. However, there have been significant barriers to effective cooperation between universities and their regional authorities. This book provides an analysis of these circumstances and draws on an international research project to point academics, policy makers and practitioners in the right direction. It provides extensive evidence from this project to support their argument.

Chris Duke is Visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow in Scotland, and at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia and founding Secretary General of Pascal International Observatory.

Mike Osborne is Co-Leader of Social Justice, Place and Lifelong Education Research Cluster, Director of CRADALL and Co-Director of PASCAL, University of Glasgow.

Bruce Wilson is Professor and Director of the European Union Centre at RMIT University in Melbourne, and a former Co-Director of Pascal International Observatory.