Confidence that a 'one size fits all' global economy and that the 'Western canon' of knowledge are sufficient to see humanity through the next phase of its transformations and adjustments has diminished dramatically over the past 4-5 years. We have an economic system that is certainly not a tide that floats all boats. We have challenges to the dominance of traditional knowledge claims as well. What does this mean for higher education, for social responsibility and for the way forward?

My remarks arise from two personal perspectives. First as the founder of the Office of Community-Based Research at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada and second as the co-holder of the UNESCO Chair in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education. I am working within a knowledge democracy framework and I will explore this concept and how it differs from either the notions of a knowledge economy or a knowledge society. I will be discussing the emergence of numerous approaches to the co-creation of knowledge, co-creation between community or social movement groups and academics and the challenges that brings to the world of higher education. The emergence of a public engagement agenda within the context of research and research funding has to be seen within a higher education environment world wide that is experiencing many contradictory trends. Massification of higher education, withdrawal of state support, privatization, internationalization are all to be seen.

Professor Hall's talk will commence at 6.30 pm on the day. Registration opens from 6.00 pm.