[OSList] On the future of universities

[agusj]

Thanks Alan! It is great what is happening in this University.

Agustin


________________________________
 From: Alan Stewart <alan at multimindsolutions.com>
To: Jen Mein <jen at umn.edu>; Jodi Sandfort <sandf002 at umn.edu>; AoH List <aoh at list.artofhosting.org>; oslist <oslist at lists.openspacetech.org> 
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 8:33 PM
Subject: [OSList] On the future of universities
 


Dear
All
Here
are two views on this issue. In the first, the question is posed ‘How much
longer will universities exist?’ See the
whole article, in which is:
“ …So what is a university?
Firstly, it is (usually) a very expensive
piece of land, with very expensive heritage buildings and very expensive
gardens. It probably has its own police force, very expensive sporting
facilities, loss making taverns and restaurants, and may also own student
accommodation and performance spaces.
A university is first and foremost a messy,
diversified property portfolio that is expensive to administer and is often
more about presentation than purpose – sandstone quadrangles, cricket pitches
groomed to chequerboard perfection by teams of silent men on roller mowers,
carillons and formal gardens.”
… And ending with:
“Sooner or later, an alternative institution
that's cheaper, more supportive, and less ‘kinetic’ to learn in, will set up
shop, and draw away the best academics. Students will follow. 
Then ultimately, the university will be
finished.”
http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/how-much-longer-will-universities-exist-20130916-2ttdx.html


Seeing this brings to my mind a different
perspective of what is a university and it’s future, as was recently reported on
these lists by Jen Mein and Jodi Sandfort about what the University of Minnesota (UMN) is offering as a
‘harvest gift’ to the global AoHcommunity. This
is an e-bookwhich carries
stories of how AoH  principles and
practices are being used across a broad spectrum of this university’s activities. 
For as indicated upfront in their e-book there are remarkable happenings
at UMN:
 “Introduction
Within the historic buildings with marble columns,
beige conference rooms and traditional classrooms throughout the University of
Minnesota campuses, there are people working differently. Chairs in circles,
markers and table clothes on tables, agendas that are drawn out with pictures,
signal something is different. But beyond those physical artefacts, the people invited
into these spaces are entering into meaningful conversations around powerful questions.
The Art of Hosting is alive at the University of
Minnesota and this eBook captures stories of how some of the faculty, staff,
and students have been motivated to change how they work with each other, with
diverse external communities, even how they understand themselves. From
conversation to transformation, the Art of Hosting goes far beyond hospitality
... “
Here are instances of the Art of Hosting practices being used at UMN
which drew my attention. 

. Stories of Practice, Wisdom
and Community at UMN

. Section Introduction to AoH
e-book of UMN
. Applying Art of Hosting as an
Open Governance Model
.Art of Hosting Meets Art
of Teaching Gathering Harvest - January 15, 2013 
.AoH Book Group Discussion:
Wave Rider, by Harrison Owen
Reading the above indicates that these across the board AoH approaches are
leading to: 
. a substantial change of culture within this university – no mean feat!
. participation by all concerned being a key feature, on the premise that 'we are in this together and to treat each other well.' 

. a sense among faculty, staff and students that this is not lip
service. 
. autonomy within the university for how cultivating
change is developing organically. “To date, more than 175 people working for
the University, including faculty, students, teaching, research, administrative
staff, and college deans are trained.”
And so I would ask of UMN people and others on these
lists: 

. Would you suggest that a firm focus on creating contexts for conversations
that matter is meeting the needs of faculty, staff and students in ways that perhaps
other universities are not, granted that it is early days?  
. Do you see that this opens up opportunities for
universities all over around our little planet, 3rd from the sun, to
cultivate similar kinds of change of culture?
. Parri passu would this also create new career options for AoH practitioners and
others who work with particular components such as Open Space Technology
(OST)and The World Café (TWC)in enabling universities
to make a start on cultivating such change?
. Could there be opportunities for these
practitioners to collaborate with others outside of ‘The Academy’ in setting up
alternatives which do meet the needs of people who would otherwise become
university students and faculty? 
Looking forward
Go well
Alan 
Alan Stewart, PhD
Social artist with conversations that matter and participatory fun
Former Senior Fulbright Scholar at Stanford University in California
Twitter: @alpalstewart
See my new e-bookletTime to converse – at the heart
of human warmth
 
 
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