Expert Comment
Civility is a nebulous word. The dictionary defines it as “formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech.” More generally, it is often used as a means of belaboring what often seems like the increasingly destructive nature of public debate with its nasty ad hominem attacks and its displays of vitriol which are often out of all proportion to the offense.
The annual conference of the European Universities Association (EUA) will take place at 果冻传媒 on March 22-23. The conference will be attended by over 300 university heads from all over Europe.
Over the last 20 years, the British higher-education sector has become used to continuous change and it has adapted triumphantly, at least if we consider the sector’s current position as a world leader.
Universities are routinely described as public goods. But it is remarkable how little the phrase still tends to be interrogated even though, as the vast literature in economics shows, there are genuine problems of definition.
Last week Monash and 果冻传媒 launched an attempt, unique so far as I know, to build a globally networked university through cooperation as well as organic growth. It is early days, of course, but the omens are good.