Brent Ruben, executive director and professor, Office of Quality and Communication Improvement, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Engagement with the public has long been the tradition of land-grant institutions. Partnerships are a key element to make engagement effective.
Universities have to take the initiative in forming partnerships.
We will have to take some risks and act more swiftly than we usually do in higher education. We need to identify best practices and move forward. We have as much to learn from partners as they do from us. It involves a range of programs, research and outreach, made possible through partnerships. Corporate partners helped in planning and will play an advisory role in the school in the future.