Our universities play a special role in generating the skills and new ideas that drive national economic and social progress. But can they do more to lift their local communities?
Category: Local Development
Reflecting on a future defined by mobility
Dr. Khanna urges decision-makers to step up their efforts to attract young talent and to build the conditions for migrants to thrive. This includes local investments in sustainable infrastructure, renewables and the circular economy – all to allow for a radical reshuffle of the world’s population in the face of climate change and digitalisation, among other things.
The workers leaving cities in favor of the countryside – And what it means for business
Two years after the onset of COVID-19, the future of work remains a topic of lively, even heated, debate. Early in the pandemic, some were quick to announce the demise of the centre-city office. The apparent success of remote work, they said, would lead to a revival of the suburbs, exurbs, and rural areas, with “work hubs” popping up as needed.
Unlocking water security in Africa: Mayors hold the key
With mounting pressures on water resources from climate, urbanisation and demographic trends in Africa, more partnerships between national and local leaders are needed. Mayors in particular now need to turn the key to unlock the development of better water policies for better lives.
All together now? Migrant integration at the local level
1 in 10 people across OECD countries are migrants. They bring fiscal benefits to their host countries. Latest OECD estimates across 25 countries show that migrants contributed USD 2.5 trillion in taxes annually, USD 570 billion more than governments spent on them.
What can we learn about the circular economy from social entrepreneurs?
Every year the city of Brussels imports over 60 000 tons of wood, when the wood could be sourced from the Sonian Forest just outside the city. Instead, most of the wood sourced from the forest is exported to Asia to be processed and sent back as finished products. The Sonian Wood Coop was launched in 2019 to change this dynamic.
It’s a Match: Reskilling refugees to meet Germany’s growing IT needs
Established during Germany’s “refugee crisis” six years ago, the ReDI School of Digital Integration brings together IT professionals to teach coding and basic computer skills to refugees and migrants.
Remote work: should I stay or should I go?
The ability to telework provided an important source of resilience for people, firms and places during the pandemic. In OECD countries, teleworking grew from around 16% of employees before the crisis to around 37% during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020.