The Engaged University

Introduction

The President of Ireland’s recent call to higher education, systems, institutions, and governing structures begs us to consider the implications of a utilitarian versus an engaged university ethos and practice when he recently stated, “we must confront an erroneous prevalent perception that the necessary focus of higher education must be on that which is utilitarian and immediately applicable” (Higgins 2016). He asks us “not forget that it is through the encouragement of creative and free thinking that our universities acquired their status in the past, and correctly claim it today, as unique institutions that accept the responsibility of enabling and empowering citizens to participate fully and effectively at all levels of society” (Higgins 2016). He goes on to refocus our attention on “the role of the university in enabling citizens to develop the intellectual tools to address the great challenges of our time, which include questions of development and global poverty,...