Ellen Hazelkorn, Dublin Institute of Technology

 

Successful knowledge regions have the ability to develop, promote and attract international and national talent. Given the complexity of knowledge and the demands of the knowledge society, it is no longer possible for a single university or research institute to accommodate all the skills, knowledge and innovation needed for social and economic development. This requires a diverse coherent portfolio of differentiated and globally focused HEIs and student experiences, providing a wide range of approaches to teaching, learning, research and innovation. World-class systems of education require greater connectivity between all levels of education because post-graduate education begins at pre-school. In addition, countries can ill-afford to attract international talent while neglecting national talent. Drawing on the experiences of the OECD Higher Education in Regional and City Development and other studies, this presentation compares and contrasts some of the strategies for building successful world class systems of education and suggests best practice.