The University of the Future:

global challenges and local solutions

Dr Andy Johnston

Head of Education and Learning, Forum for the Future

TEM Conference, 1 October 2003

University of Aberdeen

University of Birmingham

University of Cambridge

Cardiff University

City University

Heriot-Watt University

Liverpool John Moores University

Loughborough University

Middlesex University

University of Newcastle

Queen’s University, Belfast

University of Salford

Sheffiled Hallam University

University of St Andrews

The College of St Mark and St John

University of Stirling

The Surrey Institute of Art & Design

In the 1950s, most of East Asia was no better off than Africa is today. South Korea had the same average per capita income as sub-Saharan Africa. Today, Koreans earn over eight times more than Africans.

The number of poor people in East Asia as a whole has more than halved since 1975, and since China opened up to the global economy in 1978, over 200 million of its people have climbed out of poverty.

In 1960 the combined incomes of the richest fifth of the world’s population were 30 times greater than the poorest fifth. By 1991 they were over 60 times and in 1998, 78 times as high.

The number of people living in poverty (defined as living on less than a dollar a day) over the last decade has increased by 100m, according to the former Chief Economist of the World Bank, Joseph Stiglitz, to 1.3bn people (over a fifth of the world’s population).

World food production has quadrupled since 1950, using just 1% more land.

In the 1950s, one in four of the world’s people did not have enough to eat.

Today, that ratio has fallen to one in ten.

Remaining forests are being depleted by about 160,000 km2 – or half the size of Norway – every year. 11 countries are on the verge of losing their forests completely and 28 have forestland that is threatened.

50-100 species are vanishing every day – 10,000 times faster than natural extinction rates; faster than at any time in the last 65m years.

Life expectancy in developing countries has risen from 46 to 64 years since the 1960s. Infant mortality rates have halved too.

Polio is also on the way out. The number of polio cases fell from 350,000 in 1988 to just 500 in 2001. As a consequence, nearly four million people have been spared crippling disabilities.

If nothing continues to be done, the UN’s Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change warns that temperatures could rise by a global average of 5.8°c (10.4°F) by 2100.

In the past 20 years, municipal waste generated per person in industrialised countries has increased almost threefold, to an average of 475 kilos per person per year.

Global consumption of water is doubling every 20 years, more than twice the rate of human population growth.

Understanding Sustainability

Triple bottom line Sustainability Venn Diagram

Environment

Society

Economy

Environment

Society Economy

Sustainable Development

Economy Structured to meet objectives and

values set by society

Society Decides objectives for

development and sets ethical and

value framework

Environment Sets limits, the real bottom line

Understanding Sustainability

Sustainable development Universities

Economy Business

Society Learning & Teaching

Environment Community

NATURAL

HUMAN

SOCIAL

MANUFACTURED

FINANCIAL

Capital STOCKS & flow of BENEFITS

Sara Parkin, Forum for the Future

STOCK: tools, infrastructure, buildings, FLOW: places to live work, play; access to them

STOCK: land, sea, air, rivers, ecological systemsFLOW: energy, food, water, climate, waste disposal

STOCK: health, knowledge, motivation, spiritual ease FLOW: energy, work, creativity, love, happiness

STOCK: governance systems, communities, familiesFLOW: security, justice, social inclusion

STOCK: money, stocks, bondsFLOW: means of valuing, owning, exchanging other 4 capitals

NATURAL

HUMAN

SOCIAL

MANUFACTURED

FINANCIAL

Triple Bottom Line Five Capitals

Sara Parkin, Forum for the Future

Environment

Society

Economy

Sara Parkin, Forum for the Future

Natural Capital Stock1. fossil fuels, minerals, aggregates2. artificial substances3. protect green space, biodiversity

Human Capital Stock4. health5. life-long learning, interpersonal skills6. satisfying work, leisure & creativity

Social Capital Stock7. trusted government, equity8. positive values, common purpose9. institutions & processes promote SD10. safe, supportive neighbourhoods, world

Manufactured Capital Stock11. energy, material efficiency (link 1 or 2)

Financial Capital Stock12. all capitals valued correctly

The issues

environment

society

economy

campus curriculum community

Materials/wasteEnergy/utilitiesGreen buildingsTravel Plans

Healthy Universities Planning permissionSafety on campus

Whole life costsPayback periodsFleet managementCar park strategies

Risk managementStudent recruitmentStaff retention

CoursesInformation AwarenessLife long learning

Staff facilitiesLecture rooms

Biodiversity on siteAestheticsLocal Transport Plans

Shared facilitiesAccessCommunity strategies

EmploymentRegeneration

REAM

Mass Balance

Best Practice

Glass Ceilings

Sector Stakeholders

The role of universities

Important social mechanism for contributing to sustainable development

The Vision

Principles of sector wide change

LSSD

Schools Post 16 Higher Education

Schools Post 16 Higher Education

Education making a positive contribution to sustainable development

Schools Post 16 Higher Education

National

Local

Regional

International

Schools Post 16 Higher Education

National

Local

Regional

InternationalUNESCO

Private sector

Communities

Government Ministry

EU UNECE

NGOsRegional Assemblies

Senate, Boards, Governors

Local Authorities

Funding CouncilSkills Councils

Professions

Employers

Schools Post 16 Higher Education

National

Local

Regional

InternationalUNESCO

Private sector

Communities

Government Ministry

EU UNECE

NGOsRegional Assemblies

Senate, Boards, Governors

Local Authorities

Funding CouncilSkills Councils

Professions

Employers

Schools Post 16 Higher Education

National

Local

Regional

InternationalUNESCO

Private sector

Communities

Government Ministry

EU UNECE

NGOsRegional Assemblies

Senate, Boards, Governors

Local Authorities

Funding CouncilSkills Councils

Professions

Employers

Education making a positive contribution to sustainable development

Essential Ingredients

Shared understanding of sustainable development and sustainability at the OPERATIONAL LEVEL

Whole institution approach

Partnership approach

Capacity building and enabling

www.forumforthefuture.org.uk

www.heps.org.uk