Public debate usually tends to be hogged by the usual characters. Political voices are in abundance even if broadcasting pluralism and the social media have opened the floodgates allowing for many other views to be aired. At time, it sounds more like a cacophony of opinions.
Yet, the academia’s voice is very often conspicuous by its absence. Luckily, there are exceptions. The University rector’s address at the opening ceremony of the academic year was a welcome breath of fresh air.
Juanito Camilleri suggested we look at ourselves from a distance, think outside the box and make an effort to read the signs of the times against a canvas marked by fast and radical change.
Change is not necessarily negative. It is rather natural for academics to look for the new and the innovative, to search for the wisdom that opens the mind and widens horizons.
While encouraging the University to embrace change, the rector warned against destructive change, the sort that is a goal in itself. This is not grounded in values but thrives on prejudice, intolerance and opportunism.
Prof. Camilleri warned also against being anchored in false pragmatism. This world is the result of the choices, good and bad, made in the past. What the world will be is our responsibility.
The University has a key responsibility in shaping Malta of the future as well as the future of Malta. He expressed his belief in “a bohemian style of education which is not overly utilitarian or prescribed, in the need to invest in the humanities, in creativity, in unbridled innovation, in things of beauty, in things that uplift our hearts and, at the risk of sounding old fashioned, in things that feed our soul”.
This will graft the country’s identity, values and abilities onto the vast opportunities of an increasingly-globalised and networked world.
The rector also dwelt on humanity’s major challenges: demographic development, climate change and technological innovation.
In 30 years, the global population is likely to rise to nine billion while Malta and the western world experience an increasingly declining birthrate and an aging population. Most of central Africa may become uninhabitable due to global warming and, yet, half of the world’s youth will be born in Africa, with the resulting massive migratory push.
Over the same period, the number of people leading a western style middle-class lifestyle will increase by an additional three billion on top of the current 1.5 billion. Most of this will happen in South East Asia. All this will exacerbate the demand for food and water. The demand for commodities will growexponentially, leading to more strain on global resources.
In view of this, Prof. Camilleri encouraged his audience to: “Never fear change, never refrain from asking a question for fear of the answer, do not let life pass you by whilst you spectate. Seek to participate, seek to engage, seek to make a difference, cash in on the talents that adorn you. Do so for the benefit of those around you.” Of course, one must first discover one’s true self and all that one stood for.
Academia has lot to contribute towards public debate and policymaking. Such contribution can help transcend the often narrow and sometimes interest-driven, public debate.
It would not be correct to let others broker their wisdom and knowledge on their behalf. The ability to contribute to public debate and policy needs to be extolled as one crucial manifestation of academic expertise, to be valued and rewarded.