Higher education is facing painful disruptions and challenges from online providers, but the emerging need to monitor and continually update knowledge also offers opportunities.
It’s all in the details: the wide-ranging powers hinge on the yet-to-be-defined ‘institutional autonomy’ of foreign partners that enter into agreements with Australian public universities.
Universities hold valuable information but are large and porous communities, with legacy IT systems often adding to the risks. But following a few basic rules can help counter cyber attacks.
Australian universities face a huge revenue hit from falling international student numbers due to COVID-19 and tensions with China. Some institutions should consider merging rather than downsizing.
Bringing change to universities needs to focus on systems, not people. Although online shaming is effective at removing people from their positions, it doesn’t change systems.
Students won’t be allowed to participate in activities at St. Francis Xavier University this fall unless they sign a COVID-19 waiver. That’s forcing them to make a difficult and unfair choice.
Rahul Sen, Auckland University of Technology and Swati Nagar, Auckland University of Technology
With other international education markets still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand and Australian universities should position themselves as premium destinations.
Higher education institutions have started challenging the role of states as the dominant force in attracting foreign investment – particularly in terms of human talents and technological resources.
The federal government will provide an extra 39,000 university places by 2023 in a package that will restructure the amounts students have to pay for courses.
For many people, universities remain institutions embodying past imperial practices. Universities have an important role to play in society, and they must do so with society.
A Mitchell Institute report has estimated the proportion of international students in various Australian suburbs, and how much they contribute to the local economy.
Universities can only credibly claim to be preparing young people for their futures if they take into account the kind of world they are helping to bring about.
Many university teaching labs are empty as students have been moved off campus during the pandemic. There are other ways to put theory into practice, at home and online.