Higher education institutions are criticized –often for good reason- for their tendency to isolate themselves from their surrounding contexts and for not being more engaged with the issues that affect the communities in which they are located. In contrast, some scholars argue that a certain degree of detachment from the outside is necessary to prevent bias in research work. While this concern may be valid in some cases, there are important issues that directly or indirectly affect institutions and their communities that require scholars to “get out of the tower,” to conduct research highly relevant for the local context and to employ findings in such a way that they can be used to foster discussions that help inform policymakers. This is the case of the security problems affecting the U.S.-Mexico border region. The highly volatile situation faced by border communities is so challenging that it cannot be ignored by policymakers on either side of the border, or by higher education institutions. The question is how to engage universities not only to review how their students, faculty and administrators are affected on a personal level, but, more importantly, how they can mobilize their researchers to study this complex situation and how that research can have a positive impact on the region.
Last week I participated at the 2nd Symposium on U.S.-Mexico Border Security and Economic Development, an event co-convened by a variety of institutions from both sides of the border, which attracted not only researchers, but also institutional leaders and policymakers. The symposium led to a frank and sometimes uneasy discussion about the increasingly complex and volatile situation in the U.S-Mexico border region among influential parties that usually don’t often talk to each other.
Previous work conducted by bi-national teams of researchers tackled a variety of angles regarding security in the border region. Their findings were discussed not only by peers, as typically happens in traditional academic conferences, but also by leaders from the convening institutions, local authorities from both sides of the border, and policymakers from both countries. Occasionally the discussions would span boundaries not often crossed. For instance a Mayor might express his disagreement with research findings and would present his arguments about why the research is incorrect, or a researcher would make the case for more openness from government in granting access to data. Ultimately, the intent of the event was to bring together in a true sense many communities that otherwise do not talk to each other with any frequency: academicians with policymakers, institutional leaders with researchers, researchers from different disciplines and from different countries, etc.
The event was organized by the Puentes Consortium, a bi-national collaborative network convened by the Presidents of Rice University, University of Arizona, University of the Americas-Puebla, Monterrey Tech and University of Monterrey.
As expressed by the Chief of Police of a major metropolitan city who attended the event, the kinds of interactions excited by the symposium constitute a rare opportunity to showcase the ability of higher education institutions to inform public policy discussions that affect institutions and the communities in which they are located. The reaction of a researcher was also noteworthy when she expressed that the event also was a unique opportunity to have her work recognized by policymakers. Overall, a win-win situation, wouldn’t you agree?
