Opinions

Our 40 or so Australian universities are not unlike those in other parts of the world in having distinct histories and legacies that shaped their evolution but are now parts of systems that have encouraged them to be more alike.

Public funding for higher education globally has almost certainly peaked as budget repair becomes widespread. The escape valve of endlessly increasing international student fee revenue might be closed permanently in Australia.

Until the recent global pandemic, university leaders had been engaging their institutions in developing strategic plans to define their niche and relevancy in a highly competitive higher education market. Different strategies were needed to find new sources of revenue to compensate for decreased government funding.

So how does a modern entrant make their mark in a system with a traditional way of operating and how would we measure their achievement?

Are calls for more diversity in higher education based in any real foundation that would make the sector better?

Skunkworks was the term given to a secret, small team of R&D engineers at Lockheed Corp in 1943 tasked with finding breakthrough innovations in jet fighter technology, in the heat of battle. They generated a new design in a month and built a new fighter in 143 days.

Now feels like a time of flux and re-examination of purpose in global universities. In the US, national political moves towards university loan forgiveness is occurring as fees rise, enrolments fall and the value of higher education is questioned. And adding to these challenges are cost of living rises not seen for decades, and national life expectancy falling for the first time outside of world wars.

They say that time flies when you are having fun. It is difficult to judge whether that is the case for our government or university leaders right now. When a new Albanese government was returned in May, we entered winter with a pre-occupation with pandemic recovery, forthcoming economic uncertainty, and universities hoping for a change in support from government.

Something special, even unique, took place this year – an Australian university was recognised by a global award scheme for business nous. That EY Entrepreneur of the Year Australia 2021 judges would choose the CEO of an Australian university was a surprise. It meant a leader from our sector standing alongside EY’s top 40 entrepreneurs as finalists for the EY global awards. Quite unique really.

We have seen sustained, rapid and substantial growth in rates of participation in global higher education and correspondingly in the size of university providers over the last 20 years.
Most of the impactful achievements by organisations can be likened to sustained journeys by communities of people that are thriving together. The Arizona State University (ASU) story over 20 years is very much one of everyone being aligned to a charter of making high quality higher education accessible to all, on the foundations of user-inspired research, in a setting that that serves real community purposes.