We have all affirmed this again and again during the conference. But we should not forget the challenge of responsible use of knowledge. Several of our colleagues urged us to use our research capacity to solve the problems which bedevil many societies and actively impede progression towards a society where all have access to knowledge, an opportunity to learn, re-learn and continue to learn. Again, very little direct reference was made to this theme in some Working Groups. This means Administrators and faculty must co-operate.
Students have an important voice.
External actors should be invited as partners, but not as the risk of the values of the university. During the last morning, this theme was expanded. And while it was acknowledged that governments have a responsibility to fund higher education, the legitimate expectations of stakeholders and those who contribute to the funding were also acknowledged as long as this does not interfere with academic freedom. This theme of necessary co-operation and involvement of the internal stakeholders, the University community, was also developed in the Working Group on ICT and is pertinent for all other areas discussed. Ministers Kader Asmal and Lidia Brito both spoke of the Vice-Chancellor s responsibility for their university to address urgent national issues.