GEF Madrid 2024: Things University Presidents Don’t Like to Talk About

Summary

The video script from the Global Education Forum features a discussion on the challenges and future of education. Key themes include the financial constraints, political influences, and the evolving role of students in universities. The speakers, Lazar and Ben Z, emphasize the need for institutions to specialize, innovate, and focus on producing well-rounded citizens. They also highlight the importance of embracing technology while maintaining the human element in learning.

Takeaways

• 🕒 The conversation reflects on the passage of time, indicating that it has been three years since a previous discussion, emphasizing the swift nature of time's passage.
• 🌍 The theme of the 2021 Global Education Forum is mentioned, suggesting a focus on worldwide educational issues and challenges.
• 🏛️ The speakers discuss the roles and challenges of university leadership, particularly the avoidance of commonly unaddressed topics such as finances, politics, and student expectations.
• 🎓 The script highlights the changing landscape of education, with a shift towards specialization and the need for institutions to define their unique purpose and identity.
• 💼 Ben Z, a career diplomat, brings his extensive experience in cultural and educational diplomacy to the conversation, emphasizing the global context of educational challenges.
• 👴 Lazar, a seasoned academic and university professor, stresses the importance of focusing on what doesn't work in academia to drive improvement and innovation.
• 🤔 The dialogue touches on the value proposition of education, questioning the cost and the return on investment for students, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote learning.
• 💬 There is a call for transparency and honesty in university leadership, with a focus on addressing failures and shortcomings rather than仅仅 highlighting successes.
• 🔢 The script mentions the financial struggles of private colleges, with 25% operating at a deficit, and the average tenure of a university president being only 5 years, indicating instability and challenges in higher education leadership.
• 🌐 The conversation acknowledges the impact of technology on education, suggesting a need for teachers to adapt from being the source of knowledge to facilitators and mentors in a digital age.
• 🏆 The importance of educational institutions focusing on producing well-rounded citizens, not just professionals, is underscored, with a call to maintain a focus on morality and character building.

Q & A

What was the theme of the Global Education Forum in 2021?

The theme of the Global Education Forum in 2021 was not specified in the script, but the discussion revolved around the challenges and future of education, particularly focusing on topics that university presidents don't usually like to talk about.

What is the title of the novel mentioned in the script and what is its relevance to the discussion?

The novel mentioned is 'Our Man in Havana'. Its relevance to the discussion is not explicitly stated, but it could serve as a metaphor for the role of an ambassador or representative in a foreign context, similar to how an educator or university president navigates the international educational arena.

What does the term 'Greeno Contra' refer to in the script?

The term 'Greeno Contra' seems to be a playful or colloquial expression used in the script, possibly referring to a person or role related to the discussion, but its exact meaning is not clarified in the transcript.

Why does the speaker suggest that university presidents should talk about what doesn't work in education?

The speaker suggests that university presidents should talk about what doesn't work in education because it is important to identify and fix the problems in the system. Focusing on failures can lead to improvements and innovations in educational practices.

What is the role of the US Embassy Chief of Mission in Havana as discussed in the script?

The role of the US Embassy Chief of Mission in Havana, as represented by the speaker Ben Z, involves dealing with cultural and educational issues, university administration, and foreign programs for American students, with a focus on the global phenomenon of education and its development.

What are the three things that the speaker believes are problematic in the context of university leadership?

The three problematic things mentioned are money, politics, and the concept of students as 'customers'. Money is an issue due to scarcity, politics due to abundance and influence, and the 'customer' perspective changes the dynamic of education delivery and value.

What is the average tenure for a University President in the United States according to the script?

According to the script, the average tenure for a University President in the United States is about 5 years.

How does the script suggest the role of technology in the future of education?

The script suggests that technology, particularly AI, will play a significant role in the future of education, potentially changing the traditional models of teaching and learning, and requiring institutions to adapt to new forms of educational delivery.

What is the speaker's opinion on the tenure system in academia?

The speaker expresses a negative view on the tenure system, suggesting it can lead to 'fat veins and very slim brains', implying that it may foster complacency and a lack of innovation among professors.

What advice does the speaker give for a new university president's approach to leadership?

The speaker advises a new university president to not be a mini-manager, to focus on identifying what doesn't work, to be a dreamer with a strategic plan, and to conduct pilots or small-scale tests of new ideas to see what works effectively.

How does the script address the issue of specialization in education?

The script addresses the issue of specialization by suggesting that successful institutions are those that specialize thoughtfully, focusing on their target audience and the specific needs and interests of that audience, rather than trying to cater to a wide range of often competing interests.

What is the importance of maintaining a balance between being a dreamer and a practical leader as discussed in the script?

The importance of maintaining a balance between being a dreamer and a practical leader is emphasized as a key aspect of effective leadership. It involves having a vision and strategic plan while also being grounded in reality and focused on addressing what is not working.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introductions and Setting the Stage

The video script begins with a casual and somewhat disjointed conversation among participants, hinting at a previous meeting two or three years prior. The theme of the 2021 Global Education Forum is mentioned, and there's a playful banter about the passage of time. The speakers introduce themselves, with Lazar mentioning his background in international education and his current role as a chairman. The conversation lightheartedly touches on the political reasons behind the use of certain titles, such as 'ambassador,' and the importance of transparency in the discussion that follows.

05:00

🏛️ The Challenges of University Leadership

This paragraph delves into the challenges faced by university presidents and leaders in the context of global education. Lazar expresses his preference for discussing what doesn't work in academia rather than focusing solely on successes. Ben Z, a career diplomat, highlights the importance of discussing the role of education in different cultural and institutional settings. The conversation touches on the financial struggles of private colleges, the average tenure of university presidents, and the evolving role of universities in light of recent campus protests and the impact of COVID-19 on education.

10:02

💼 Navigating Finances, Politics, and Students

The speakers identify three central issues that university presidents dislike discussing: finances, politics, and students. Money is a concern due to limited resources, politics due to the abundance of opinions and conflicts, and students, referred to pejoratively as 'customers' by one speaker, due to the changing expectations and demands. The paragraph emphasizes the need for university leadership to address these challenges and the difficulty of managing an institution with diverse and often competing interests.

15:02

🌐 The Evolving Landscape of Education

The discussion shifts to the broader context of education, considering the impact of technology and globalization. There's a debate about the value of traditional education versus the emerging models, such as online learning. The speakers ponder the future of education, considering the need for institutions to specialize and adapt to the changing needs of students and society. The conversation also touches on the role of AI and the importance of providing relevant educational experiences that lead to tangible outcomes.

20:06

🤔 Reflections on Education's Purpose and Identity

This paragraph focuses on the purpose and identity of educational institutions. The speakers discuss the tension between providing a broad education and forming well-informed citizens versus training professionals. They reflect on the historical context of education and how it has evolved from an elite exercise to a mass phenomenon. The conversation also considers the role of technology in shaping the future of education and the need for institutions to adapt to these changes while maintaining a focus on moral and character development.

25:09

🛠️ Strategies for Institutional Improvement

The speakers offer advice for new university presidents on how to approach their roles and tackle the challenges of institutional leadership. They emphasize the importance of not getting bogged down in minutiae, focusing on identifying and addressing what isn't working, and being strategic in decision-making. The paragraph also touches on the need for leaders to be dreamers, to have a vision, and to conduct pilot projects to test new ideas and approaches.

30:10

📚 The Role of Boards in Educational Institutions

In this paragraph, the discussion centers on the composition and role of boards within educational institutions. The speaker shares his recipe for an effective board, consisting of workers who pull the institution forward, door openers who guide and facilitate, and the less productive members who are politely encouraged to move on. The conversation underscores the importance of board members understanding their roles and contributing positively to the institution's mission.

35:11

🌟 Embracing Change and Adapting to New Educational Realities

The speakers acknowledge the dramatic changes in education due to technology and the current global situation. They stress the need for reevaluating the purpose of education and not just the methods. The conversation highlights the importance of leadership in curating educational experiences that align with the institution's goals and the community's needs. The speakers also emphasize the importance of maintaining a focus on character building and not losing sight of the moral aspects of education.

🌍 Conclusions on Global Education and the Path Forward

The final paragraph wraps up the discussion by reiterating the importance of understanding the purpose of education and being firm in one's mission. The speakers call for a reexamination of educational practices, especially in light of technological advancements and global challenges. They conclude by emphasizing the need for educational leaders to balance the demands of the present with the vision for the future, and to prioritize the development of well-rounded citizens over narrow professional training.

Keywords

💡Global Education Forum

The Global Education Forum is a conceptual gathering of stakeholders in the field of education to discuss and address global educational issues. In the script, it is the setting for the conversation, which revolves around the challenges and future of education on a worldwide scale.

💡University Presidents

University Presidents are the key decision-makers in higher education institutions. The script discusses the challenges they face, such as financial constraints, political pressures, and the evolving role of universities, which are central to the theme of the video.

💡Cultural and Educational Issues

Cultural and educational issues refer to the various aspects of education that are influenced by cultural factors. In the script, this concept is important as it highlights the diverse contexts in which education operates and the need for universities to adapt to different cultural circumstances.

💡Academic Tenure

Academic tenure is a job security system for university faculty, allowing them to remain in their positions without the threat of job loss. The script mentions tenure as a point of contention, with some arguing it can lead to complacency and resistance to change.

💡Educational Challenges

Educational challenges encompass the difficulties faced by educational institutions, such as financial deficits, political interference, and adapting to technological advancements. The script discusses these challenges as central to the conversation about the future of education.

💡Role of Education

The role of education refers to the purpose and function of educational systems in society. The script explores this concept, questioning what education should be and how it should evolve to meet the needs of the future.

💡Covid-19 Impact

The impact of Covid-19 on education is a significant theme in the script, as it has forced a reevaluation of traditional educational models and accelerated the adoption of online learning, changing the value proposition of in-person education.

💡Specialization

Specialization in education refers to the focus on specific areas of study or professional training. The script suggests that specializing can be a strategic approach for educational institutions to better serve their target audiences and address market needs.

💡Student as Customer

The term 'student as customer' frames the student as a consumer of educational services. The script discusses this concept in the context of students seeking customized educational experiences and the implications for how universities must adapt.

💡Technology and Education

Technology and education refers to the integration of technological tools and platforms in the learning process. The script highlights the need for educators to embrace technological change and prepare for new roles, such as mentors and coaches, rather than traditional knowledge dispensers.

💡Institution Building

Institution building involves the development and strengthening of an educational institution's identity, culture, and operations. The script touches on this concept when discussing the importance of having a clear vision and strategy for the future of educational institutions.

Highlights

The conversation revisits a discussion from two years ago, indicating the passage of time and the evolution of topics.

The 2021 theme was a global education forum, setting the stage for discussions on the future of education.

The speakers introduce themselves, revealing their backgrounds in international education and diplomacy.

Lazar, as chairman and professor emeritus, emphasizes the importance of discussing what doesn't work in academia to drive improvement.

Ben Z, as the chief of mission of the US Embassy in Havana, brings a diplomatic perspective to the conversation on education.

The importance of discussing the role of education in a global context is underscored by the current global education forum.

Three key issues in university leadership are identified: money, politics, and the perception of students as customers.

The challenge of balancing the traditional role of universities with the modern demand for customized education is highlighted.

The speakers discuss the financial sustainability of private colleges and the average tenure of university presidents.

The role of technology in education and the shift from traditional classroom learning to online platforms is examined.

The importance of universities focusing on specialization and the identity of educational institutions is emphasized.

The speakers debate the value of tenure and its impact on academic freedom and institutional change.

The need for university presidents to be strategic, yet flexible and open to experimentation, is discussed.

The role of the board in university governance and the importance of a balanced composition of board members are highlighted.

The speakers call for a reevaluation of the purpose of education in the context of technological and societal changes.

The conversation concludes with a call to maintain the human element in education, despite technological advancements.

Transcripts

yeah we look at each other like this

sorry I thought we were in time but

maybe we were a bit late I'm not I don't

care so sorry about that oh no we have

fun already last here so I will have do

you know who the we are or what somebody

told well I

think I think I will and maybe let you

enjoy this

conversation we have done this two years

ago yes you know we thought it was you

know it it was I thought it was 2 years

ago but it was actually in 2021 I know

time flies so it's actually three yeah

okay um what was the theme of the

2021 it was a global education Forum

your question uh not a specific one

okay I think it's better in English

we will have please introduce us if you

do this is the this Grand Green Road of

novel about Kuba our man in Havana right

this is our man in Havana I'm a

Greeno Contra imig okay people Contra

and this is our our ambassador in Kuba

is called sh theair

because something that we're going to be

talking about I hope this they not

listen just no no I'm sorry I want

everybody has access to this information

I'm just saying

and all that this is the American

sh I mean everybody knows what that is

an ambassador who cannot be called an

ambassador for political reasons thank

you we have politics in the United

States it's called Miami and um

AOS and this is off the Record right no

we are live streaming

FYI yes we are so um let's let me just

very briefly please uh say that I don't

think you need me here uh because I

really hope you can enjoy the

conversation H you know follow um up

other On's comments and maybe get some

questions from the audience uh but I

would love to hear a little bit uh about

yourself uh to introduce yourself and

why do you think they have chosen this

title and things University presidents

don't like to talk about and why do you

think you are here being um you know

leading this

conversation let's start uh you first

okay well okay I'm

Lazar and I'm here because well I like

this institution and also I happen to be

chairman okay and I um

spent my whole life in the

international educational Arena I'm not

an educator I'm trained in politics and

and public policy and

economics and um but I spent um a a

great part of my um life

um being a university Professor I'm

Professor ameritus from the flater

School of Law and diplomacy America's

oldest Graduate School of International

affairs

um at TS

University uh but I joined the faculty

there I hate to see say that ladies and

gentlemen out there in the world I'm 200

years old uh when I joined the faculty

in 1967 it was still co-administered

with harbard um that doesn't

count just one thing um why is the title

called than you very president don't

don't like to talk about because

somebody asked me what should be the T

said why don't we two of us he a

diplomat and once about 30 years ago a

student of mine at fler now Ambassador

and um there are hundreds of them out

there in the world um ask me what should

we talk about it let's talk about it but

what people don't like to talk about I'm

sick and tired of good news let me tell

you what didn't work I spent 50 years in

Academia and I have to talk about what

doesn't work because that's important

that's what you have to

fix

aha please all right well I'm Ben Z I'm

the chief of mission of the US Embassy

in Havana Cuba I'm a career Diplomat

I've been working for the Foreign

Service for about 36 years most of that

time uh in 11 different countries deal

dealing with uh cultural and educational

issues dealing with universities

University Administration uh foreign

programs for American students uh and

have dealt with various versions of of

what university presidents do and don't

do under different cultural and uh

institutional circumstances and it uh

obviously I know the United States best

but I think it is now a moment given the

global uh education Forum that we're in

to discuss the global phenomenon of what

it is that education should be can be

should not be and how it should develop

for the future given all the things that

we're discussing at the conference so I

think it'll be an interesting

interesting conversation I hope and

obviously Dr vazar is uh is is not that

uh that not that not that old and

certainly not too old to bring his uh

Decades of experience uh to bear as well

don't you dare to call me drct Allan I'm

Mar let's try to let's try

okay let's try to find the answer to

that question why and uh according to

your experience what are those things

you were mentioning before people don't

really want to talk about you know let

me tell you three things just throw up

the table that presidents and the

leadership unless you're a leader of a

university you're not a leader period go

home do something else okay three things

that stink

uhhuh one

Money

Two politics

three uh I don't know what to call them

I call them students others call them

customers

something money because there always

very little of it politics because there

is always too much of it damn it

three the

customer the student at loss in the

world let's spin it there maybe a little

bit that's that's sort of absolutely

well I think our part has touched on

sort of some of the more relevant topics

that are challenging the educational

institutions of today uh some facts and

figures in the United States about 25%

of private colleges are deficit the

average tenure for University president

now in the United States is about 5

years uh and as we've seen recently uh

with the campus uh protests in the

United States the very role of the Ed of

the university in the United States and

around the world frankly is up for

discussion uh what is the value equation

for education if covid taught me that I

can sit at home in my pajamas and uh

learn uh anthropology why am I paying

$85,000 for a university that uh I'm not

able to use or attend or or take

advantage of I mean it reminds me our

part of the in the old days when we used

to have cable television packages right

you buy cable television package and

you'd get 162 channels whether you

wanted them or not and now today's

student SL customer wants to unbundle

that and have a streaming education I

want to choose one from column a one

from column B one from column C and I

will pay for that but I don't want to

pay for the uh the channels that I don't

use and really I think the educational

challenge of today the the fundamental

one is

helping individuals students adult

Learners essentially you're you're

trying to uh to cultivate and help them

choose what to choose yeah let me butt

in on that and say okay just picking up

strands and then coming back to sort of

the big picture one

okay he pushed a button which

says our B the truth is somebody ought

to ask the question are you there in

this building or at at home in your

pitas

because you want uh polish your brain or

are you there to get a

job hello uh open mouth walks around the

administrator and

says Where would someone give me a

napkin so I can blow my nose can't

answer it and you want everything or you

get nothing

ah you know just one strength keep that

in mind this is sort of an unad question

then pick up another strand like the

money and or the um the politics

strand he mentioned it customer says I'd

have to put all that D on the

table okay that was a slang so money on

the table to get this as a package what

if the world doesn't want this in five

years or 10 years or whatever years okay

and I'm not talking about you got to

think first of all thises here's the

problem the time frame problem also you

have to

think now because you have to get an

answer for somebody for something of

course which you don't know what is this

whole meeting all about Ai and future

and everything do we know no we walking

with your with our fingers and up in our

nose and say we are experts and we know

the world is absolutely full with second

rate gurus uhuh and be paying for them

and we love them because they name but

that's not the point they don't want to

talk about it so let me get back for a

second to the

money uh uh uh please pay 85,000 or

45,000 or 36 bucks I don't care how

much for something I don't know what it

is in terms of

outcome when I will be snipping the

roses from below but he will be only 45

years old ahuh that's a problem because

he just you know has a kid who's a

teenager and God knows what and all that

so the university parent is

there and I know because I had to live

with about six of them babysit for them

um I didn't say that um and says I don't

have an unanswerable question at least

for

him what's the money for and where do I

get the money who where do I get the

money I a

customer or he she it the boss man the

president of the University

why because there is politics one guy

likes to burn that book and the other

guy says that should be your Bible ah of

learning pardon me I didn't want to

offend the Bible I'm also believer for

everybody hears it out that and all that

kind of wonderful things learn your AI

yeah but that's and I I want to because

I know you want to but but in on that

and I'm shut up right now but that's the

second

problem first of all I want your money

but I don't know what for I I know I

can't give you the answer what how that

outcome will be

second if I say please pay less I I'm in

trouble because I don't know where where

do I get the rest of the money

amen arpot I think the point is you you

you're actually talking about the a

structure an identity problem that's

before the money problem right because

if you are talking if if you believe

that sitting in your pajamas you are

able to learn as well as you can in a

collective environment you're having a

different argument right you're having

an argument about what is the content of

what you are delivering versus what is

the context in which you are delivering

it now right now you talk about money

you know there's a there's an arms race

in United States education because of

demographics you have more and more

institutions fighting over fewer and

fewer students so I need a rock climbing

wall I need a you know a a COI Pond uh

you know I need stuff that you're

attracting again consumers versus

students are you telling people what to

learn are you asking them what they want

to learn are you how are you curating

their experience are you forming

citizens or are you forming

professionals are you making welders or

are you making well-informed citizens

and I think it really is up to the

university leadership to be able to

disaggregate how much citizenship you

want to

uh uh I guess transmit at the same time

to be able to justify the return on

investment saying you will be a good

citizen and employable at the same time

and that is the balance remember you

know when you started out in you in

education it was about trying to make

you know learn the great books learn

Latin learn Greek become a well educated

individual this was not a mass

phenomenon you were educated an elite

and in the time that you have seen it

this is no longer an elite uh uh

exercise which is an excellent point you

know the the the what you're talking

about is the slippage in this time

boxes that side guys there's a Wonderful

by the 19th century German the 18th

century German philosopher talked about

the ti guys the the spirit of the time

it's not only they

shrunk uhhuh because you push the

buttons and all that kind of thing and

every thing was become uh CL clear but

for the leader it is not that you steps

one two three he's talking about that

yes you know I when I went to high

school excuse me high school or

gymnasium in Europe you know but it was

the capitalist or communist because I

also lived in communism the you know the

the old I'm 200 years old so I knew how

communist Hungary and capitalist Hungary

you had 8 years of LA and the book now

of you that 8 years is now shrunk for

three three and a half

minutes uh-huh and the the point is now

that the leader say say cannot say to

the consumer I the student you're going

to have one step two step he don't want

to he want to skip step

he want so or it or it should not be

expensive back to the nasty money

proposition which comes to my mind is it

um the same situation and the same

problems you mention everywhere because

he is also you know saying that that

probably lack of access of education and

we can see very specifically in the us

where you know it's more expensive than

other places but all these challenges

we're facing H do you think it's exactly

the same all around the world and the

most important thing where would be the

solution well I think we have a question

back here but before we get to the

question uh I it's obviously not the

same in every context I mean in Europe

uh you know education is is inexpensive

and accessible uh but what to teach and

how to teach remain the same problem

because remember when our pod went to

school when I went to school you had you

did not have an alart education the

genius and the less intelligent in the

same classroom there was a standard

presentation you all it was a buffet it

was not a buffet it was you had one dish

eat it don't eat it eat it fast eat it

slow like it don't like it too bad now

and we had a great presentation before

with AI and with the technology the

leader is is actually charged with

making a buff F educational uh uh

offering to the person who has uh you

know gluten you need to have a

gluten-free education and a you know

paleo diet education and a vegetarian

education and that's what they expect

they expect a leader to be able to

dedicate resources to each of these

various parameters before we go to the G

just one word okay on this and how

relevant this

is I have a son who's going to be

60 in July went to school with this guy

went to same

class um he happens to be irrelevant

here and all these things are irrelevant

what I'm saying but important if there's

such a thing as irrelevant and important

think about that later when you go home

um once he asked me that he president of

a company a very large international

company comes to MRE offer yeah okay he

said to me Gringo America born from the

US yeah yeah of course yeah he said Dad

and he was already president of the

company I

love what kind of guy I should want if I

have four aids top behind me I'm the

president of the company thousands of

people

if I lose three of them tomorrow give me

the profile of the person I should hire

now in the year is 24 he asked me that

question a few months ago and I said why

don't you answer me he said okay what

you need and he said very

simple give me a mathematic ician who

can write

poetry think about it give me a

mathematician who can write poetry and I

said Thank you lassel his first name is

lass thank you lassel you answered that

PO so what's the recipe D it but how do

we know how do we train them you know I

believe if if I would be running this

University I'm just

chairman or that one or that

one that's I would say get off on only

raising money and each Dean ship is a

separate fum try you know running its

own or his or her own uh operation and

that there's a lack of coherence to that

uh to that operation is that and and

that the professors are notoriously

independently minded and ego Ecentric

and they refuse to do even what the dean

wants them to do don't you hate tenure

yes uh no not no no I no I think that

the the the you you point to an

interesting challenge that has changed

in the past 20 or 30 years because you

have so many stakeholders very different

stakeholders our point it out you have

people who said burn this book other

people say no no make this the Bible

you've got people who say no no no we

must be doing citizens no no no we must

be capacity building we must be raising

money the the the the the for-profit

educ

model is what it's Riven with

contradictions and challenges I

understand but in the corporate world

50.1% is a decision whereas in in

universities 1 descent out of 30 is a

tie uh what what we what we in diplomacy

we call this red card diplomacy like in

soccer right you have a room full of

people making a decision and one person

raises a card and suddenly it's hm maybe

we

shouldn't the I think the spirit of the

of the academy

is not uh accept is frequently in any

organization can lead to paralysis when

you're talking about an institution that

is dedicated to the to the production of

knowledge in theory you're not you you

can't you're not supposed to deny

knowledge supposed to welcome knowledge

and someone bringing new knowledge is

not a reason for rejection it's a reason

for contemplation and review which

indeed leads to Thoms and you know and

paralysis and everything else it's a

huge challenge and as I pointed out when

you have presidents whose average 10

years is 5 years it's very difficult to

establish your own signature on the

institution okay I want to but in that

about four

things I promise to be sure just the

fact that you know transparency okay

very important transparency you know you

don't know how many people thanks God

they they can't argue with me hate me

for the way I talk you know I tell them

you l or whatever but anyhow tenure I

was the single I had tenure in 5 minutes

everywhere wherever I went okay but I

was at one place um so I was the

singular most unpopular young Professor

at the pleasure School of Rond and with

all that glory and everything D

University because I every year

introduced The Measure to abolish tener

uh because I firmly believe it leads to

P the expression fat ve ANS and very

slim brains ahuh thank you okay so much

for that about that just lost everybody

online as a professor I just want to

remind you guys we are life I don't need

that job I don't need that job I money

thank you very much so go away okay and

and here I am chair second but very

important to this this debate here um

what would I say okay I'm following on

him and following on your thing because

you recall and then yourself also asked

the question and what is to do what's

the answer how do you fix the damn thing

if it sort of just limps along because

that's what we really talking about it

and we're going to be troubled big

trouble or little trouble everybody one

what would I say as a recipe for a

current wood a new president remember my

son's

executive henchman behind his presidency

who can who a mition can write as a

concept think about it poetry what would

I say to a president okay first of

all don't be a mini manager don't be

don't don't worry about the uh cost of

the toilet paper in the budget uhhuh you

understand capish okay okay one don't be

don't try to solve everything you

can't whatever decision you make make

that decision on the basis of what do

you see as something again don't work I

as a chairman I've been chairman for a

few organizations I always said don't

ever in your annual report tell me how

wonderful things you did tell me what

they what they didn't work because

that's what we have to fix I am not

interested the rest of the crap pardon

the expression please hold the whole

world along so number one be not that

number

two

um H

try to

be okay balance the two things um what

are the two things um yes you have to be

a dreamer uhhuh P you have to be a

dreamer and you have to say I um uh want

to have a 5-year plan of strategic plan

how I organize my organization everybody

wants a three-year plan fiveyear plan

staling had fiveyear plans every aaric

been applauded went home and did boom

nothing I almost said something else and

so but everybody applauded at the party

Congress it

wasn't

Mano every everybody understood ke

Mano it's just beautiful but you know it

doesn't work so instead of that

uh-huh have a plan that is my Target and

then do

pilots P up

here as do small do small as the French

say ahuh do pilot Pilots you understand

again think conceptually not necessarily

the pilot project take a trle take a

bite and do it and do it really well and

see again can see okay it it works it

helps now what is institution building

is another question how do you do those

from those things a step letter that the

big will come to

life it will take another symposium to

talk about that yeah I noticed that uh

appropo of your question talking about

Deans and presidents uh we neglected to

discuss the role of the board in

engaging in institutions with the many

people who have their own opinions about

what the president and the Deans and the

students should be doing can can can I

for ree for that one may I say that

gentl once a question back there let me

better say okay you know what my rule

for I have been chairman of several

boards and and you know you what's my

recipe every board should consist of

three elements one the

horses the the horses they pull

second the the door

openers they don't walk through the door

they know where the door is they know

how to open it and they say to a faculty

member a dean and get off

your and do it but that's the right door

and that's not the right door that's my

second

valuable here on the board and then I

have the third to those flos idots and

Hangers On who come for rubber chicken

and in Spain's case good wine and lunch

and then they go home those after two

years I usually tell them politely uh

you will be a narrator so Bravo capano

and go home um in short get lost uh you

have a

question that's my recity for a a v

that's how it isst

which again is

important thank you the question I have

is is a bit more how many minutes basic

is that you know with the transition

from the 20th to 21st century we are

increasingly relying on technology and

and digital tools but what I'm seeing is

that we haven't prepared the teachers to

accept the change in their roles from

being a source of knowledge to one of

coach and mentor and I think is that not

the role of the president to prepare the

teachers in in their new roles and their

new challenges

I mean I think you're right but I think

it's a temporary problem because I mean

we my children who are in their 20s are

very technologically proficient

understand the difference between the

channel and the knowledge and I think

that we will see the next generation of

of of instructors being able to overcome

that and figuring out depending on the

institution and the mission uh how

they're going to how how they're going

to transmit this knowledge but I think

arod said something very important

uh the successful

institutions uh in the United States at

least are those that are

specializing uh very thoughtfully you

know the the allc comers you know all

education University for everyone for

all reasons is becoming more an elite

thing whereas your online school to get

your Nursing degree or to become a

welder or to become you know whatever

profession you want to choose to be

where or aart you have the those

programs so in other words you are

investing in the target audience that is

likely to come to you and that makes

your job as a leader that much easier

because you know your identity you know

what you're trying to do you know what

the student SL client wants and needs

you're not attempting to address an

entire panoply of often competing

interests with this Buffet of like how

many croissants do we give and how much

salad do we give if you can specialize

whether it's online or whether it's a

community college I think to me me that

is the future that is the future of

Education not just in the United States

but across the

board which comes okay you know they put

in front of me papers and we have four

minutes now I saw I saw that five

minutes had before so now three but you

know you can take your time yeah that's

right you know just where is staling

when we need him sitting next to me you

know okay so no no no no let's get

serious and I'm going to get back on

that point

which is absolutely right we praising

each other but that's how it is um it

goes back to the issue of uhhuh knowing

your own

purpose so

kindly get serious and know why am I

here is the first question and why am I

doing it uh-huh and because I should be

doing that whatever well and indeed if

Society needs look let's face it in uh

half a million heavy refugee camp in

Kenya or in southern

Sudan we ain't

needing so to speak doctors I want

highly trained nurses I want highly

trained medical professionals because

because we know someone can sit in

Hawaii in front of that D thing pardon

me expression who is the

best gastrointestinal surgeon or heart

surgeon and we know how to get his

message live in picture to southern

Sudan in the refugee camp

uhhuh and a highly trained nurse

will

save excuse me I'm emotional about it

the late life of that

mother uhhuh thank you but I first need

the highly trained so my preaching

lesson is yes we need the the the

doctors let we need all this here right

here this

University but give me instead of 25

annual

get me 200 nurses or 400 nurses who know

those things we talking

about that's that's one step

forward that's one step forward or give

me not 25 teachers but 50 teachers

annually or any numbers what I'm saying

that's what Ben is saying but that

requires that you know your purpose and

you firm about it and if you make make a

mistake you say

well at least I

tried some of the best decisions come

only after a personal experience and how

you can change from your own you know

little place in the world try to change

things we are running out of time but I

would like to give you some more at

least last minute H you know to hear

more about your thoughts conclusions or

anything else you want to share with us

we're in a moment of very dramatic

educational change because of Technology

but also because of the world we're

living in and I think around the world

uh we need to reexamine the why we're

doing and not just the how because it's

very easy to take the old model and say

okay we're going to have a video

conference instead of a teacher it's

still frontal it's still someone you

know telling students what to do and

write this down and give it back to be

on a test now I think we need to look at

it from both ends and the leadership

that challenge for great leaders

educationally or organizationally

anywhere is how do you curate that

experience to best affect following what

you want to do and addressing the needs

of the community but let's not face it

we're not in education in my view we're

not uh making only doctors or lawyers or

Indian chiefs we're making citizens so

we can never abandon the element of

morality the element of of sort of

vision element of character building and

sacrifice that to make someone a more a

more proficient uh glass maker that's

not what we're about and so that's my

view Dr Lazard try to control time yours

and those around

you and try to find

time not for Perfection a little bit of

that mix

of brain

Humanity

poetry agre and know how to count

Without The Machine ironically despite

the fact that we are in that age how

about that if you use him to check

whether you were right but let the brain

first try to say I can answer what is 5

by five uhhuh and then in case you have

doubts check with the mission that's all

okay thank you very much for your

expertise for your insights and

especially for your emotional thoughts

and experience okay uh this is part of a

session we are having today at Global

education forum and we really appreciate

your time and you being here thank you

thank you oura lot of thanks for

everybody online thank you thank you

thank

you staling is dead I just wanted to

tell you guys that