The coming revolution in public services,and what it means for cities and universities

Abstract

Long-term demographic trends, combined with low productivity and pressure on public finances have set in place the preconditions for a major revolution in public services. Governments face new demands including for security which will lead to more centralization, but social and environmental services for a more complex society call for greater decentralization. There are no obvious or easy solutions. Strategic intelligence in universities will be at a premium. Institutions of higher education will have to generate research leading to innovation in public services, teach people working in the public sector, evaluate risks and good practices, and work collaboratively with other partners to strengthen communities. Because this policy-relevant agenda does not come easily to most academics, forward-looking universities will have to undergo significant change to remain relevant. They have every interest to do so because their well-being is tied up with that of the communities around them. The internationalization of university teaching and research should be an asset in this process in a world that is increasingly urbanized.

Keywords

Public services austerity regional development international education policy-relevant research

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