Australian universities have played a key role in the nation’s intellectual, social, and economic progress for more than a century. As globally connected research and teaching institutions, they have helped inform and shape public policy, driven innovation through inquiry and discovery; nurtured former and emerging political, business and community leaders; and, expanded opportunity and social mobility for millions of Australians.

As the first quarter of the 21st century draws to a close, the higher education sector stands at a critical juncture: navigating state and federal reviews; increasingly complex regulatory reforms; funding pressures on both teaching and research; global competition and international rankings; and shifting expectations from government, industry, and the wider community.

In light of these various changes, the UWA Public Policy Institute has convened a policy summit – Fit for Purpose? The Future Governance, Regulation and Impact of the Australian Higher Education Sector – to reflect on the past and present governance, regulation and impact of universities and begin to chart a pathway forwards.

Key areas of focus include:

→  The Australian Constitution and university governance/regulation 

→  Student demand, supply and allocation 

→  Funding, accountability, and the future role of state/federal government 

→  Balancing institutional autonomy with national priorities

→ Positioning Australian universities in an evolving global higher education landscape 

The UWA Public Policy Institute Higher Education Summit includes contributions from leading scholars, senior university managers, and policy practitioners in constitutional law; sociology of education; and, higher education policy from WA, Australia and Canada.

The summit will be of interest and value to academic and professional staff; state and federal government policymakers; higher education policy consultants; academic publishers; and, higher education service providers.

Join us in late November and listen, learn and contribute to the discussion on the future governance, regulation and impact of the higher education sector as it readies to embark on the next phase of its evolution with both the Australian Government and the Western Australia State Government due to make major announcements on university governance and reforms at the end of this year.