مقاله انگلیسی رایگان در مورد دانشگاه ها و شهرهای هوشمند – تیلور و فرانسیس 2018

Introduction: universities in the smart urban quality development

This article deals with the arguments and creative means for striving for high quality in the universities. In general, the importance of high quality is emphasised (ESG, 2015) in the higher education, and especially this is justified as a prerequisite for the universities’ successful contributions to the development of the smart cities or communities. Almost one thousand ranked universities (Times Higher Education, 2017) exist in different cities all over the world; the bigger cities typically have several or many universities. Many different academic university rankings are directed to emphasise the academic achievements but do not follow the traditional recognised quality concepts or principles. Hence, the universities have much to learn and develop regarding the professional quality practices. Particularly this can happen in collaboration with the other organisations, which they also are serving in the society. Universities are essentially urban institutions. Modern universities were born and developed from the year of 859 (Arbaoui, 2012) onwards in the cities and on their impact, and in turn, they have influenced on the development of the cities and the whole societies. Universities play a significant role in supporting regional social cohesion, economic growth and future competitiveness (ESG, 2015). As a significant example, Humboldt University in Berlin Germany provided the model of the University of Civilisation, the ideal that the science provides the basis for civilisation (‘Bildung durch Wissenschaft’) (Hautamäki, 2016). This means that the University’s societal responsibility arises when its research and teaching address challenges of the society, which have an important impact on people’s lives and well-being, and whose solution requires interdisciplinary and broad interaction with the various stakeholders. In Astana, Kazakhstan, the University of Civilisation especially aims at promoting the inter-ethnic harmony (Appelbaum, 2005). On the other hand, smart city was a key theme of the Expo2017 in Astana. Given the desire to become increasingly knowledge-based, as is the situation regarding the smart city development, the higher education is essential to the socio-economic and cultural development. Many university-units or their researchers have been involved and collaborated with other organisations in the smart city development projects, which have been carried out in various countries since 2011.