Influencing Public Policy

May 2009

Building on the previous three U21 Symposia, the 2009 Symposium at Korea University, which took place on 21 May as part of the annual meeting of U21 Presidents, explored the mechanisms which operate between the university and the formation of governmental public policy.  Three key areas were identified in which universities often provide expertise to governments as they develop and implement public policy decisions – education, economic development and ‘controversial’ social issues – and were discussed in three sessions over the course of the day.

After the opening speeches by Professor Ki-Su Lee, President of Korea University and Professor John Casteen, President of the University of Virginia and Chair of the U21 network, the morning session focused on the relationship between the university and government in global human resource development.  Professor David Eastwood, newly-appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham and Professor Kazuo Kuroda of the Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies at Waseda University gave two different perspectives on this issue, from UK and Asian standpoints, and generated some interesting discussion about the ways in which higher education has both shaped and responded to the demands of government and employers.  

The second session, moderated by Professor Innwon Park of Korea University’s Division of International Studies, focused on the university’s influence in developing governmental national and trans-national organisational economic policies.  Professor Dongwha Kum of the Korea Institute of Sciences & Technology gave an interesting presentation on the progress of science and technology and the role of academia in Korea, while Professor John Casteen gave fuel to the discussion with his speech entitled Policy and Reciprocity: effective partnerships for economic growth.

The final session of the day, investigating the university’s role in establishing ‘facts’ in areas of controversial public policy was moderated by Professor Glyn Davis, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne.  It was opened by a guest to the network, Professor John Haldane of St Andrew’s University, Scotland, followed by Professor Dong-Young Kim of the Korea Development Institute.  This led on to some very lively debate, particularly between Professor Haldane and Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea of Edinburgh and brought an interesting day of presentations and discussion to a close, having given all delegates some stimulating points for consideration and thought.