・27 June 2026 – Professor Ronald Barnett to Deliver Keynote Address at the Japan Management Society Annual Conference
The Educational Research Foundation is pleased to announce that Professor Ronald Barnett, Emeritus Professor of Higher Education at University College London (UCL), will deliver a keynote presentation at the Annual Conference of the Japan Management Society on 27 June 2026.
Professor Barnett is internationally recognised as one of the leading scholars in the philosophy and future of higher education and is widely known for his work on the concept of the Ecological University.
His presentation, entitled “Civic, Global, Ecological: Towards a Collaborative Mission for the University?”, will explore one of the most pressing questions facing universities in the twenty-first century: how institutions can respond simultaneously to multiple and often competing societal expectations.
The presentation will examine three interconnected dimensions of the contemporary university:
- The Civic Domain, emphasising public service, social engagement, community wellbeing, and local impact;
- The Global Domain, characterised by international competition, research performance, innovation, rankings, and growing demands for AI readiness;
- The Ecological Domain, focused on sustainability, environmental responsibility, and humanity’s long-term relationship with the natural world.
Professor Barnett will consider whether these multiple missions inevitably create tensions and fragmentation, or whether a more coherent and collaborative vision of the university can emerge. He will argue that collaboration may provide a pathway for integrating civic responsibility, global engagement, and ecological stewardship in higher education.
This keynote address is expected to offer valuable insights into the evolving role of universities in an increasingly complex and interconnected world and aligns closely with ERF’s commitment to advancing higher education through international research and collaboration.
Speaker: Professor Ronald Barnett, Emeritus Professor of Higher Education, University College London (UCL)
Event: Annual Conference of the Japan Management Society
Date: 27 June 2026
Supported by: Educational Research Foundation (ERF)