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Balancing the needs of communities with academic advancement
21 March 2009
There is continuing debate within the university sector about both the definition of ‘regional’, and what resources such universities should attract.
Whilst there is national pressure for universities to become networked and world class, there is also pressure from within growing communities in regional and rural areas for easier access to higher education. Yet some small university campuses cannot possibly meet their real delivery costs and some universities claim that their small campuses cost many times more than the main campus activities.
There is, therefore, a real tension between academic progress with economy of scale on the one hand and responding to local demand on the other.
Further complicating the picture is the call by one researcher for 20 new university campuses in ‘outer-suburban’ areas. This suggestion is made in response to the recommendations of the Bradley Review, which proposes the expansion of higher education with hundreds of thousands of extra student places. The new campuses would be ‘teaching only’, and it is argued that existing universities could not cope with the problems of adapting fast enough, hence new universities.
Whereas this particular researcher often has some really interesting findings into higher education, on this count there is again an insight into how few city-based commentators really understand outer-metropolitan, and moreso, regional Australia.
Firstly, creating new universities of any kind is extraordinarily expensive and wasteful of scarce resources. It is better to adapt and develop existing universities in key locations.
Secondly, growing regional communities have particular needs that go beyond ‘teaching only’. The Sunshine Coast is a classic example of a collection of communities with distinctive needs.
Sippy Downs has a particular set of needs and I have talked about those frequently.
But on Thursday, Cr Lew Brennan familiarised me with the needs of Cooroy around the Butter Factory and Mill Site.
I was struck with how much a local community is seeking with respect to study opportunities, innovation advancement in particular industries, as well as research.
These aspirations of a community may not resonate with those in hot pursuit solely of world-classness, but if we believe in equity and social justice, this community’s aspirations are just as real as those emanating from central Melbourne.
In the years ahead, this University has a major challenge to balance its pursuit of world-classness whilst also being responsive to the needs of its regional communities.
Professor Paul Thomas AM is Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of the Sunshine Coast.