Speaker
Mr
Michael McGrath
(UAE University Al Ain)
Description
The first INSPIRE project has created an instance of a global collaboration centered on science return -- setting in motion an opportunity to envision how INSPIRE might grow as part of the "university of the future" discussions taking place in research-driven academia. With global communication technology being well established, information content (once in the domain of academia) is readily accessed at almost anyplace on the globe. Growing INSPIRE to become a broad and sustainable global cooperative undertaking that advances a new academic model for space science research has benefited from this. Advancing a broader global collaboration will likely bring challenges. How the collaboration will support curriculum development and delivery is an open question. The intermix of global partners will reveal language and cultural differences; this will bring challenges, but also bring rich social opportunities for attaining a deeper understanding of the global cultural dynamics -- an aspect that may prove as important as the science returned from projects. In advancing INSPIRE it seems likely that entities beyond the university level will take interest, and in countries where technology restrictions are managed, there will be the need to more broadly inform government leaders to acknowledge the benefits of this undertaking. In summary the lessons learned from INSPIRE's global collaboration effort may be important to creating the university of the future.
Primary author
Mr
Michael McGrath
(UAE University Al Ain)