Ponente: Eva Egron-Polak, Secretaria General de la Asociación Internacional de Universidades AIU

1. Values and Social Engagement Contribution by University Networks: The Case of IAUEva Egron-Polak, IAU Secretary GeneralUPTL, May 5, 2011

2. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 1 Presentation outline Introduction to IAU and to the topic Setting the context and listing some reasons for social engagement Defining the concepts How IAU contributes Concluding remarks and suggestions An invitation

3. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 2 Introduction to IAU IAU: global membership association Founded in 1950 by universities seeking to build world peace through collaboration Link to UNESCO goals, but independent and autonomous 650 university and university associations as members – UPTL and IOHE/OUI are both members! IAU Constitution anchors the work of the Association in key values and defines universities as primarily socially responsible institutions

4. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 3 Values and Social Engagement of Universities Analysiscanbeoutwardoriented Universities promoting values and serving the social, economic and cultural goals of society Or InwardLooking Universities instiling in students, academics and administratorskeyacademic values and acting as models of ethicaland sociallyresponsiblebehaviour Globalization and Internationalization Makethesetwo perspectives indivisible -Push the analysis of Values and Social Engagement – beyonda single focus towardsDiversity -Push for amergingbetween the local and the global

5. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 4 Why University Social Engagement? World of opportunities and challenges World of huge gaps and inequities among and within nations/regions Education key to inclusion or exclusion in (knowledge) society and for nations Knowledge shifting from global public good to private service as higher education and applied research results

6. Why University Social Engagement? Competition and race for prestige, reputation, a position in rankings Decreased public investment leading to privatization even of public HE institutions Mismatch between countries with higher education capacity (supply) and higher education demand for access ITCs a way to expand access but also changing the nature of educational process. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 5

7. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 6 Why University Social Engagement? Increased commercialization and commodification Braindrain still rising and devastating Academic fraud, malpractice including plagerims made easier by ITCs Degree mills or providers of poor quality Risk of reduced access for the under-represented due to costs

8. Social Engagement – a single definition? Social Engagement, Social Responsibility, Community Engagement, etc. One possible definition: “A university’s responsibility to preach and practice a set of principles and values through its core functions of teaching, research, community [outreach] and institutional management.” G. Mohamedbhai, 2011, modified. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 7

9. Social Engagement to promote which Values? Commitment to fairness, truth & ethics Promotion of social equity & sustainable human development Recognition of an individual’s dignity & liberty Appreciation of diversity & multiculturalism Promotion of human rights, democracy & civic responsibility Honesty and transparency .G. Mohamedbhai, 2011, modified 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 8

10. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 9 IAU Global Advocacy = PromotingCommitment to Principles SeveralStatements, Declarationsadopted, coveringmanycriticaltopics in highereducation. Alldrafted by experts from a large variety and the fullestspectrum of universities around the world and adoptedonlyaftermuch open debate and consultation.

11. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 10 Declarations – serve as a Compassfor Social Engagement Higher education and Sustainable Development ‘… to utilize the resources of the university to encourage a better understanding on the part of governments and the public at large of the inter-related physical, biological and social dangers facing the planet earth and to recognize the significant interdependence and international dimensions of sustainable development’. IAU, Kyoto, Japan, 1993 IAU website – www.iau-aiu.net for documents, declarations, tools

12. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 11 Declarations – serve as a Compassfor Social Engagement Internationalization of Higher Education an Cross border Higher education 1998: ‘Preparing future leaders and citizens for a highly interdependent world, requires a higher education system where internationalization promotes cultural diversity and forsters intercultural understanding, respect and tolerance among people. Such internationalization contributes to building more than economically competitive and politically powerful regional blocks; it represents a commitment to international solidarity, human security andhelps to build a climate of global peace.’ 2004 : a blunt warning about the negative potential of internationalization; calls for higher education across borders to serve the goal of global equity and for policy frameworks that can ensure that cross-border higher education’s contribution to the broader public interest is not sacrificed to commercial interests. Signed by more than 30 Associations worldwide, including IOHE?OUI

13. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 12 Declarations – serve as a Compassfor Social Engagement Must add new Declarations with care. Instead, need to focus on dissemination and updating existing ones – IAU has agreed to launch such a process with the Internationalization Statements At the same time, as follow-up to the IAU Conference on Ethics and Values (June 2010), agreed to work with the Magna Charta Observatory (Bologna, Italy) to draft: Guidelines for an Institutional Code of Ethics in Higher Education

14. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 13 Compass sets direction Behaviour sets example IAU and MCO willpromoteInstitutionalCodes of Ethicswithmonitoringmechanisms and capacityto sanction malpractice IAU Equitable Access and Success in HE statement (2008), led to institutional self-examination of policies, programs and practices on this issues by 10 pilot universities (UPTL&USM). Are wecrediblewhen acting on the principlesweadopt?

15. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 14 Compass sets direction Behaviour sets exampleTools facilitate actions Associations such as IAU can set direction, canmobilizebut shouldalsoprovidetools to facilitate action. IAU’sproject to build bridges betweenuniversity and otherlevels of education to meet Education for All and education-related MDGs., Offer a new Portal – HEEFA and capacity building workshops.

16. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 15 Concluding remarks Whatcanwe do/ What must we do? Make Social Engagement a dimension on which institutions are compared Act on the Declarationswesign, Revisitothers Set social learning and behaviour goals for students: Striving for excellence: Cultivating personal and academic integrity: Contributing to a larger community: Taking seriously the perspectives of others: Developing competence in ethical and moral reasoning and action (source: AA&CU, core commitments project)

17. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 16 Concluding remarks Finally, let me invite you all to twoupcoming IAU events: 2011 International Conference on: Strategies for securingEquityin Access and Success in Higher Education, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya 16-18 November, 2011 2012 14th IAU General Conference on Higher Education and the Global Agenda, InteramericanUniversity of PuertoRico, San Juan, PuertoRico, 12-18 November, 2012 IAU Elections and adoption of Guidelines for Code of Ethics

18. 4 May 2011 © IAU, 2011 17 Muchas Gracias information on IAU www.iau-aiu.net Contact e.egronpolak@iau-aiu.net