The first stage of the initiative includes hosting four design sessions that bring university representatives and government practitioners together to identify best practices and explore opportunities for further collaboration.
AUSTIN (Dec. 7, 2018)—The LBJ School hosted a regional collaborative design session Dec. 5-6 as part of the first phase of the Volcker Alliance's Government-to-University (G2U) Initiative. The G2U Initiative focuses on building connections between government and universities to strengthen alignment on recruitment, skills development and research.
How can universities produce practical research for government issues? Check out the final G2U design session of 2018 on Dec. 5-6 in Austin TX, where our roundtable will examine this topic and more. @TheLBJSchool https://t.co/jfhIbI5TTA
— The Volcker Alliance (@VolckerAlliance) Nov. 27, 2018
Great 2-day forum with @VolckerAlliance @TheLBJSchool on even better connecting universities with government. Big takeaway: how to keep the conversation going. We will keep moving down this productive road. @apsiainfo @naspaa @ASPANational @napawash
— Don Kettl (@DonKettl) December 6, 2018
The Alliance has partnered with universities, civic groups and government agencies in four cities to conduct two-day roundtables to identify replicable best practices, initiate local cross-sector projects, and build a network of leaders committed to bringing the two sectors closer together.
"An effective government relies on great people and smart management practices. The G2U initiative seeks to build a strong community of practice to strengthen the pipeline of skilled talent into government and ensure that public policies and programs are helping inform and are improved by rigorous scholarly analysis," said Thomas W. Ross, president of the Volcker Alliance.
“Government too often doesn’t know that there are university options out there to tap into—we need a navigator to connect.” @VolckerAlliance @TheLBJSchool @PMRA1991 @ASPANational @napawash pic.twitter.com/HMJ0GFeEL7
— Don Kettl (@DonKettl) Dec. 6, 2018
"This initiative not only marks a strong connection between the Volcker Alliance with the LBJ School," said Don Kettl, professor of public management at the LBJ School. "It's also an important part of the LBJ School's strategy of developing strong partnerships with government, nonprofits and the private sector. Those partnerships provide keen insights into how we can better prepare our students for public service—and for strengthening the impact of the research done by our faculty."
The first of these design sessions was held in Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy on Oct. 16 and 17. Core partners for the other sessions include the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government, University of Kansas School of Public Affairs and Administration, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), The University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, The Lab at OPM and Federal Executive Boards.
G2U design session dates and locations:
- Oct. 16-17 – Pittsburgh, PA
- Oct. 24-25 – Chapel Hill, NC
- Nov. 14-15 – Kansas City, MO
- Dec. 5-6 – Austin, TX
Participants in the roundtable sessions include university administrators, faculty, students, recent graduates, program and hiring managers from all levels of government, good government allies and subject matter experts.
We’re excited to be back at @TheLBJSchool at @UTAustin for Day 2 of the Government2University Initiative with @VolckerAlliance!pic.twitter.com/ESo94NU8bm
— Coding it Forward (@CodingItForward) Dec. 6, 2018
"These design sessions emphasize the importance of continued collaboration between universities and government and sustaining these local partnerships over time," said Dustin Brown, senior fellow at the Volcker Alliance. "Our goal is that by convening this diverse set of stakeholders we will help increase the flow of talent into government and generate impactful research that is mutually beneficial and supports overall government effectiveness."
Discussing critical hiring issues during today’s #G2U convening @TheLBJSchool @HeinzCollege @uncsog @KUSPAA @MARCKCMetro @LABopm #OMB #FederalExecutiveBoards #RFFG #VolckerAlliance pic.twitter.com/22YtNodbLL
— The Volcker Alliance (@VolckerAlliance) Dec. 6, 2018
For more information on the G2U initiative including a newly released Volcker Alliance report, "Preparing for Tomorrow's Public Service," please visit www.volckeralliance.org.
Thanks to @VolckerAlliance for bringing collaborative design sessions to LBJ. These sessions hope to strengthen the pipeline of skilled talent going into government and ensure that public policy is rooted in rigorous scholarly analysis. Thanks to @DonKettl for his leadership. AE
— The LBJ School (@TheLBJSchool) Dec. 6, 2018
The Volcker Alliance advances effective management of government to achieve results that matter to citizens. The nonpartisan Alliance works toward that objective by partnering with other organizations—academic, business, governmental and public interest—to strengthen professional education for public service, conduct needed research on government performance, and improve the efficiency and accountability of governmental organization at the federal, state and local levels. Visit volckeralliance.org to learn more. The Volcker Alliance is a 501(c)3 organization.
The LBJ School, one of the nation's top public affairs schools, has a unique legacy of tackling the most complex policy problems of our day by creating innovative approaches that make a difference, not only within the walls of academia but also in the public and social dialogue of the world. Advancing scholarship and contributing viable solutions to society is the LBJ School's legacy and its path forward. More than 4,500 graduates are the living legacy of President Johnson's bold and fearless action. For more, visit lbj.utexas.edu.