The future of higher education is the subject of much discussion at this time of great disruption. In this Discourse, Professor Sir Adrian Smith shares his thoughts on the subject in conversation with Professor Orla Feely. He draws on his leadership experience within universities, a major research institute and a learned society, as well as his involvement in policy formulation.
Their conversation examines the impact on higher education of digitalisation and globalisation. It also considers the funding and organisation of higher education and of research, the nature and role of leadership in higher education, the relationship between higher and further education, and how higher education can most effectively engage with the policy system.
Our speakers:
Sir Adrian Smith is President of the Royal Society. He is also Institute Director and Chief Executive of the Alan Turing Institute. He is a mathematician with expertise in Bayesian statistics. Between 2008-2012, he was Director General, Knowledge and Innovation in BIS(now BEIS) and has previously worked with the UK Higher Education Funding and Research Councils. In the 2011 New Year Honours list, he was awarded the title of Knight Bachelor.
Orla Feely MRIA is is President of University College Dublin (2023). Professor Feely is a Member of the Royal Irish Academy and a Fellow of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), Engineers Ireland and the Irish Academy of Engineering. Professor Feely is the President of Engineers Ireland, a director of the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition and Deputy Chair of the Higher Education Authority.
This Discourse was sponsored by Mason Hayes & Curran LLP.
