Unprecedented challenges to higher education systems and academic collaboration

Abstract

The world is in a transition from a relatively stable political, economic and social period towards one in considerable turmoil with radical implications for higher education. Climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, rising nationalism, geopolitical tensions, inflation and economic instability, are just some of its main manifestations. With hindsight, there were already many hints of the direction of this transition, but its magnitude and speed seem to have taken the world and the higher education sector by surprise. We have already seen how the pandemic has disrupted higher education worldwide. We are now watching higher education challenged in its autonomy and academic freedom by nationalist-populist movements and governments in several parts of the world. Issues of national security, geopolitical conflicts and war are challenging academic collaboration and global science at a time when pursuance of the UN Sustainable Development Goals requires more partnerships and deeper transnational cooperation. These developments are occurring at a time when higher education – and tertiary education more broadly – already face questions about their role and purpose in the global era. Widening participation, and achieving greater equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are key goals for higher education, but around the world access from primary to tertiary education is still restricted, particularly for the 84 million people currently displaced around the globe. The Russian invasion of Ukraine forces us to be clear and outspoken against any attacks or restrictions on human rights and democratic values as well as on academic freedom, and at the same time keep our channels of communication and collaboration as open as possible. The response of higher education to the COVID-19 pandemic has shown how the internationalization of higher education and research can help solve global challenges. In contrast, the invasion of Ukraine and growing geo-political tensions highlight the fragility of those links and the vulnerability of higher education and research. Global engagement over the last few decades has been a key priority of higher education. The global knowledge economy created more competition between universities, but it also stimulated cooperation and exchange of people and science, although primarily for the benefit of the global north. Current geopolitical tensions pose very serious challenges for this global engagement. While diffuse and complex, the implications for global engagement in higher education and research in these volatile times are likely to be severe. As Altbach and de Wit (2022) state, ‘The debate about academic engagement and academic values is not an easy one. The academic boycott against the apartheid regime in South Africa taught us that blanket boycotts are in no one’s interest’. One of the collateral results of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the loss of rationality in segments of the academic community in North America and Europe. In response, they argue that engagement with Russian colleagues – and knowledge about Russia taking into account all perspectives and viewpoints – is vital. They state: