Australian Universities: A conversation about public good

By: Julia Horne

Australian Universities: A conversation about public good highlights contemporary challenges facing Australian universities and offers new ideas for expanding public good.

More than 20 experts take up the debate about our public universities: who they are for; what their mission is (or should be); what strong higher education policy entails; and how to cultivate a robust and constructive relationship between government and Australian universities. Issues covered include:

- How to change a culture of exclusion to ensure all are welcome in universities, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students as well as those from low socio-economic backgrounds.
- How "educational disadvantage" in Australia often begins in school and is still the major barrier to full university participation.
- The reality that funding for research and major infrastructure requires significant additional funds from non-government sources (e.g. international student fees).
- A lack of policy recognition that international university students increase Australia's social, cultural and economic capital.
- Pathways to making policy decisions wide-ranging, consultative, inclusive and inspired rather than politically partisan and ideologically driven.
- The impact of COVID-19 on universities, and particularly how the pandemic and governmental responses exacerbated extant and emerging issues.

Australian Universities rekindles a much-needed conversation about the vital role of public universities in our society, arguing for initiatives informed by the realities of university life and offering a way forward for government, communities, students and public universities - together - to advance public good.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1743328702
• ISBN13: 9781743328705
• Release Date: June 2024
• Publisher: Sydney University Press
• Length: 282 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.3"