Australian Universities

<p><em style=color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Australian Universities: A conversation about public good</em><span style=color: rgba(51 51 51 1)> highlights contemporary challenges facing Australian universities and offers new ideas for expanding public good.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>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:</span></p><p></p><ul><li><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>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.</span></li><li><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>How educational disadvantage in Australia often begins in school and is still the major barrier to full university participation.</span></li><li><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>The reality that funding for research and major infrastructure requires significant additional funds from non-government sources (e.g. international student fees).</span></li><li><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)> A lack of policy recognition that international university students increase Australia's social cultural and economic capital.</span></li><li><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Pathways to making policy decisions wide-ranging consultative inclusive and inspired rather than politically partisan and ideologically driven.</span></li><li><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>The impact of COVID-19 on universities and particularly how the pandemic and governmental responses exacerbated extant and emerging issues.</span></li></ul><p></p><p><em style=color: rgba(51 51 51 1)>Australian Universities</em><span style=color: rgba(51 51 51 1)> 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.</span></p>