Joining the Dots- Universities’ roles in integrating local, regional, national and international geographies

The inclusion of Universities and higher education in the recently adopted ‘Incheon Declaration for Education 2030’ signals recognition of the changing role of Universities in a global education, economic and social system. Universities are pivotal institutions within this complex global system for enabling sustainable development. As Anchor Institutions, institutions rooted in their local and regional geographies, Universities influence and enable economic growth, innovation, social inclusion and the development of place. This presents an evolutionary and transformative role for Universities in shaping economic and social development within local, regional, national and international geographies In this paper the role of Universities in ‘joining up the dots’ and as integrators of geographies in many distinctive ways: envisages a more fundamental role for Universities. This places Universities as equal partners with Governments, businesses and communities as designers and developers of future economies, societies and nations within a more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable global world.