National changes under the microscope
2 September 2006
It’s one of those weekends for me when I have conflicting allegiances.
It’s a weekend that I’d really like to spend with my family, but instead I’ll be locked up with about 30 other Vice-Chancellors in Geelong, discussing various topics on the future for universities. From Friday to Tuesday there is a huge agenda to cover.
On Friday we will have discussions within a group to which we currently belong, the ‘New Generation’ universities, to examine how current issues are likely to impact on our universities. Also, we’ll be looking at the name and future role of the group, as other groups organise their strategies to compete for funding. The current manoeuvring is quite intense.
Forearmed with these discussions the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee meets to discuss its own future structure, after questions were raised about its operations, and after a major review just being completed. Whether the whole group will cohere and continue to meet regularly, or whether there will be a move to strengthen the groupings of universities will also be an intense debate.
In addition there will be an examination of the emerging policies of Labour and the Coalition, to gauge the merits and levels of support that are being promised for a sector in transition.
The main plenary meeting will deal with all the major core issues facing universities, including: research, student finances, Indigenous higher education, quality, teaching and international links.
It’s not the most relaxing way to spend four or five days, but it is an important forum for interrogating the issues to benefit universities.
Professor Paul Thomas
Vice-Chancellor of University of the Sunshine Coast