ABSTRACT
All economies – both local and national – function in a highly competitive environment. The 2008-9 credit crunch has exposed the fragility of the global economy. Populations are socially polarized – intranationally and internationally. There are significant challenges for public service delivery: in health and education, from care provision for the elderly, to providing adequate housing and transport infrastructure. The planning system should sustain ‘good’ cities. There are challenges of developing and maintaining civilized cultural vitality. We have the knowledge to resolve many of these issues but do not use it. We can create the requisite knowledge. This is the knowledge challenge. It will be met in large part through education, research and lifelong learning. The need for a revolution in education is at the heart of our argument.
