The International Role of Metropolitan Universities

Abstract

Metropolitan universities have constituencies to serve at home and abroad. U.S. urban areas must be players in a new international "game," if they are to prosper as centers of civility and commerce. To obtain this prosperity requires the whole-hearted collaboration of universities their urban communities. The roles of metropolitan universities are many: interpreter, incubator, change engine, mediator. In every instance, the "international reciprocal" appliesan "investment" begets a valuable "dividend" for the urban community and the university. The world will find the experience and models it seeks in urban America, and metropolitan universities can be the decisive players in bringing the other players together.