Are universities failing society? Asit Biswas and James Giggacher

Universities have long been valued for their role in creating knowledge – knowledge which can hopefully be used for the betterment of society and humankind. But in the age of social media and in what has been called a world of ‘post-truth’ politics, are the best ideas of our scholars and academic institutions cutting through? In the new Policy Forum Pod, experts Asit Biswas and James Giggacher discuss whether universities are now more concerned with chasing global rankings than making a meaningful contribution to society. Professor Asit Biswas is one of the world’s leading authorities on water and environmental management, and currently the Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School for Public Policy in Singapore. James Giggacher is Editor of New Mandala and an associate lecturer in the ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs. They are in conversation with Policy Forum Editor, Martyn Pearce Further reading: Kris Hartley's piece on the crucial role of academics in speaking truth to troubling political power: http://www.policyforum.net/professor-speak-make-difference/ Video of Asit Biswas talk at ANU Crawford School on the death of academic citizenship: http://www.policyforum.net/resource/death-academic-citizenship-universities-failing-us-asit-biswas-2/ ANU Coral Bell School of Asia-Pacific Affairs Horizons Seminar Series: http://bellschool.anu.edu.au/event-type/horizons-seminar-series

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