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.

The goal of public policy is to improve the wellbeing and long-term outlook for constituents. Sometimes expressed as creating: Equity

Efficiency
Security

Liberty
Wealth

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

Policy Target: Competitive Economic Advantage

Old Measure
Low cost Brawn Stability Natural Resources

New Measure
High Quality Brains Innovation Created Resources

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

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.

Private

Think Tank

Gov

Higher Ed

NGO

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

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

Inter-institutional cooperation requires

A common set of problems

Rules

Assessments
Accountability

Respect

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

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
Sense of Urgency Boundary Primary Mission Multi-year Exclusive Scholarship, teaching

Most Other Public Institutions

Fiscal year, election cycle, now Inclusive 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?

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

Era of Knowledge
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 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

Enable access for all

Educate the haves and have nots alike

Fuse intellectual disciplines

Transcend traditional academic boundaries

Become socially embedded

Connect with communities

Engage globally
Recognize that the worlds problems affect the locality

Universities as institutional partner: public policy development

Conduct Use Inspired Research

Government
Which issues to study? What data are useful? Create policy options Act as neutral convener

Society/Community
Public input as data point Simplify public issues Educate on implications

Business
Which issues to study? Anticipate policy obstructions Develop solutions

Fuse Intellectual Disciplines

Business Education

Science Policy

Social Sciences

Sustainability

Law

Architecture & Design

Engineering

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

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

THANK YOU

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

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 Reconsidered, Ernest Boyer, 1990

Scholarship of discovery
(original research to advance knowledge)

Scholarship of engagement
(application of expertise to produce results)

Scholarship of integration
(synthesis of information across disciplines)

Scholarship of teaching and learning

(requires a format that allows public sharing)