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Media

Australia Institute Podcast, Follow the Money: A broken university system is letting Australia down

Triple R, Interview with George Williams Future Perfect: the future of higher education in Australia

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A Critical Juncture: It's now or never for universities to reclaim their mission for public good.

In this essay, Vice-chancellor and leading constitutional expert Distinguished Professor George Williams AO calls for Australian universities to reclaim their civic purpose, rebuild trust and recommit to serving students and communities.

Our centres of higher learning have leapfrogged big business to become easy political targets. And it’s no surprise; the sector has scored its fair share of own goals over the handling of staff underpayment, Vice-Chancellor salaries, antisemitism, free speech and safety on campus.

Ad hoc and insufficient government funding has forced universities down the path of corporatisation, drifting away from their role as public institutions with the mission to serve the public good.

Universities need to claim agency, tackle the issues within their control, and replace self-interest with a genuine commitment to putting their students and communities first. Without a reset the future looks grim. Our universities need to guard against misinformation and foster the next generation; the nation requires critical thinkers, researchers and innovators more than ever.

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