More than half the population of the world is now living in urban habitats. Asia is the fastest growing region in urbanization with inequalities, poverty, insecurity and exclusion amidst abundance and prosperity. In the past decade, nearly half a billion Asians have moved to urban habitations, and the trend continues. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have historically been recognised to serve public goods, with unique social responsibilities in producing knowledge for societal development.

PASCAL associates, Tom Schuller and Maria Slowey were two of the keynote speakers at the final conference of the THEMP project (Tertiary Higher Education for People in Mid-Life) hosted by the University of Barcelona on 14 November 2013.

Another PASCAL associate, Roberta Piazza, also presented at the conference.