Equitable World and Student Success as the Main Missions of University

The fifth set of articles from The Future of Universities Thoughtbook | Universities During Times of Crisis introduces Principal at Kaospilot, Christer Windeløv-Lidzélius, President of the American University of Beirut, Fadlo Khuri and Vice-President of Strategic Impact at Lumina Foundation, Courtney Brown. 

In his article ‘Traces Towards the Future’, Christer Windeløv-Lidzélius outlines the conversation we should facilitate regarding the university’s future role, responsibility and relevance to society and describes which qualities will be indispensable in the world of the future, besides the qualities of our knowledge society. 

In his article ‘AUB Helped Spark an Arab Renaissance – and Must Do So Again’, Fadlo Khuri focusses on the role of universities in defining the future of the Middle East, and dreams of a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable world that academics are capable of creating. Prosperity, happiness, and peace may not always lie around the corner, but that does and should not prevent universities from laying the foundations for transformation. 

In her article ‘Higher Education is Key to Imagining a More Equitable World’, Courtney Brown highlights the role of higher education in creating a more equitable world, where ‘one’s skin colour or income doesn’t define our success in education, or in life’. She imagines a future in which student success will be the main mission, instead of institutional success. 

The Future of Universities Thoughtbook | Universities During Times of Crisis is a compilation of 45 perspectives of international thought and practice leaders. 

The Thoughtbook has gathered the perspectives of leaders and champions at the forefront on how universities can shape the world during times of crisis, presenting a range of possible futures. This edition creates a vision for the future of higher education institutions and how they will impact their communities during times of crisis, complementing the inaugural international Future of Universities Thoughtbook and the Australian and North American editions. The contributions are divided into six thematic sections – Imagine a University…, Crisis as a Driving Force, Disrupting Teaching and Learning, Collision of Technology and Humanity, Socially Engaged University and Entrepreneurship and University-Industry Interaction. Together, the articles provide a 360-degree view of universities from the perspective of different stakeholder groups. 

For more information and to order or download your copy of The Future of Universities Thoughtbook | Universities During Times of Crisis visit our website www.future-universities.com 

Header photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash.