Why Higher Education?

Right now in Ireland, there are over 225,000 students in our Higher Education system and 25,000 staff supporting them. This is a massive system with a critical job to do. This system is unique because it possesses both the power and potential to impact a massive range of geographically and socially distant communities. Education is the primary engine for human capital development and therefore responsible for shaping, motivating and preparing our future leaders, change makers, colleagues and neighbours. To deliver on this immense potential, we need the system to be working 1) effectively, 2) efficiently and 3) equitably, three qualities many, both inside and outside the system, would argue it is falling short on.

In the design process, much of the early rigour is directed towards finding, framing and crafting a challenge that offers the best opportunity for innovation to emerge. Framing complex problems as design challenges transforms them from intractable headaches into focused opportunities that motivate the search for solutions. Warren Berger describes this eloquently as a ‘beautiful question’: an ‘ambitious yet actionable question that can begin to shift the way we perceive or think about something — and that might serve as a catalyst to bring about change”.

In order to survive and thrive, the collective intelligence, cooperation and creativity of our people must be harnessed. Our Higher Education system is responsible for shaping this talent and is in the best position to have the greatest impact. This is a role the Higher Education system has always had and succeeded at; however, the challenge is different now.

Higher Education has always looked and acted outwards to provide talent and knowledge, but it now needs to begin looking and acting inwards.