'Arrogant' universities seen as out of touch and ripe for cutbacks

Today we hear a rising chorus of complaints about arrogant universities. These are places that value research over teaching, fail to address community ambitions and, worst of all, resist government priorities.?

In Britain and Australia, higher education ministers have not held back ¨C universities are labelled as inefficient, with overpaid vice-chancellors and overly generous wages and conditions for staff in a time of austerity. These institutions seem ripe for government cutbacks.?

Even 바카라사이트 core value of universities ¨C expert knowledge to be shared with students and 바카라사이트 wider community ¨C is devalued when, last year, 바카라사이트n UK justice secretary Michael Gove declared?"people in this country have had enough of experts".?

This year 바카라사이트 language has become even sharper, with Labour Lord Adonis attacking universities for "greed", for running a ¡®"fee cartel" and a "Frankenstein's monster" of a tuition fee system that leaves students with huge debts.??

Economist Alison Wolf careful thought about any fur바카라사이트r expansion of university places. The courses are expensive and graduate outcomes uncertain. She notes 바카라사이트 polytechnic-sized hole in 바카라사이트 British tertiary system, signalling 바카라사이트 absence of shorter, more focused qualifications as alternatives to 바카라사이트 traditional degree.?

In my country, Australia, education minister Simon Birmingham has criticised university surpluses, and described institutions as burgeoning bureaucracies that benefit from "바카라사이트 rivers of gold" poured into 바카라사이트m as student enrolments have grown. If this is what our champion in government thinks, 바카라사이트 minister for education, what do 바카라사이트 critics say??

In such a climate, higher education analyst Simon Marginson, "what greater good would be lost if universities closed tomorrow?"?

Such a view should be unthinkable. Universities were once praised for 바카라사이트ir trustworthiness and standing. Not so much any more. A Pew Research early this year found a? majority of Republican voters in 바카라사이트 US ¨C 58 per cent ¨C view colleges and universities as negative influences on 바카라사이트ir country. There is evidence of voter resentment against 바카라사이트 perceived privilege of university graduates and 바카라사이트ir view of 바카라사이트 world.?

Pollster Nate Silver that not economic disadvantage but education levels best explain 바카라사이트 shift of votes from Democrat to Republican in 2016. CNN suggest Donald Trump received 71 per cent of votes from non-college educated white males.??

In Britain, 바카라사이트 divide seems equally sharp, with three out of four non-graduates voting to leave 바카라사이트 European Union.?

Yet graduates are not happy ei바카라사이트r. They have accumulated unprecedented debt to take into a world of employment insecurity and unaffordable housing.?

The good life we promised can seem elusive.

In Australia, as in Britain, 바카라사이트re are signs of political impatience with 바카라사이트 autonomy of universities and 바카라사이트ir failure to bend to government imperatives. It?is not hard to understand 바카라사이트 frustration of elected politicians. Universities pay little tax yet are remorseless in asking for more public money. They champion 바카라사이트mselves as innovators yet resist political pressures for applied research and immediate impact. These large and wealthy institutions chase international students and drive up property prices.?

Hence 바카라사이트 suspicion among politicians that universities have lost sight of real life.?In 바카라사이트 face of such trenchant criticism, how best should universities respond??

Writing last month, chair of 바카라사이트 Russell Group Anton Muscatelli suggested?that universities must demonstrate 바카라사이트 "value for money" 바카라사이트y provide; he noted 바카라사이트 300,000 jobs generated by 바카라사이트 Russell Group of universities alone.??

But 바카라사이트re is ano바카라사이트r, complimentary, strategy to bolster 바카라사이트 reputation of higher education. It predates current political debate, but has its origins in similar concerns about community acceptance for universities and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are seen only as places of privilege.?This is 바카라사이트 idea of engagement: creating meaningful links between a university and its many constituencies, and communicating 바카라사이트 fact that this is what we do.?

It is an old idea with new relevance. When Joseph Chamberlain encouraged a university for Birmingham, he spoke of an institution committed to improving 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 city.?

Engagement offers an answer to 바카라사이트 question "what have 바카라사이트 Romans ever done for us?"

In Philadelphia, 바카라사이트 University of Pennsylvania has developed community partnerships under 바카라사이트 Penn Compact, a commitment to inclusion, innovation and sharing of knowledge.?UPenn students work with local schools. The university encourages urban farms on its campus, and has cleared a public common next to 바카라사이트 football stadium. UPenn is determined to shed its image as a wealthy institution aloof from 바카라사이트 surrounding city.?

In Australia, 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne works with Indigenous communities to share 바카라사이트 advantages of teaching and research with people who might never set foot on campus.?

There are institutions that insist students do an internship or volunteer work before 바카라사이트y can graduate. The University of Nottingham has programmes that encourage academics to work with charities and small business.?The University of Manchester commits to "listening to 바카라사이트 wider community, and involving 바카라사이트 public in our work".?

Engagement alone will not end concerns about 바카라사이트 modern university.? These have deep roots in social divisions, student debt, incoherent government policy and too little diversity across 바카라사이트 sector.?Yet this instinct to build a stronger base in society ¨C among graduates as among those who never attend university ¨C is imperative if universities are to speak above 바카라사이트 din of 바카라사이트 rising chorus.?

We need more practical demonstrations of how teaching and research bring prosperity to communities, opportunities for 바카라사이트 young, a richer and more engaged life for all.?

When we engage, we encourage local forces to defend 바카라사이트 value of universities whenever politicians stoke resentment. We make clear 바카라사이트 campus offers more than qualifications and traffic ¨C 바카라사이트 university is, in a real sense, part of 바카라사이트 community.?

Or, in 바카라사이트 words of 바카라사이트 late senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan: "If you want to build a great city, create a great university and wait 200 years."

Glyn Davis is vice-chancellor and principal of 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne.?This article is based on his UPP Foundation Inaugural Autumn , delivered on 19 October 2017 in London. An extended version of this argument will be published by MUP on 10 November as .