A merged Adelaide university would be out of step with accord reforms

Proposals to merge South Australian universities are nothing new, though in 바카라사이트 past have always failed. But now a proposal to merge 바카라사이트 two larger universities, 바카라사이트 universities of Adelaide and South Australia, has been agreed by both? councils, enthusiastically outpacing 바카라사이트 state government¡¯s earlier promise of a merger commission to consider 바카라사이트 concept.

While staff commentary has been almost inaudible, save via a broad National Tertiary Education Union survey that found only 바카라사이트 merger, non-government MPs, who hold 바카라사이트 majority in 바카라사이트 state upper house, have expressed reservations. So a pause in presenting enacting legislation has been called until a parliamentary joint committee has considered 바카라사이트 merger¡¯s merits.

Meanwhile, a major national development has suddenly overshadowed 바카라사이트 entire discussion. Last month, 바카라사이트 federal education ministry released 바카라사이트 interim report of 바카라사이트 new Australian Universities Accord, its vision of 바카라사이트 future shape of 바카라사이트 whole nation¡¯s higher education system. While 바카라사이트 full report is not due until year-end, it is already clear that it will bring 바카라사이트 most far-reaching reform of 바카라사이트 Australian university system since 바카라사이트 ¡°Dawkins Revolutioné¢ ¨C 바카라사이트 major reshaping of 바카라사이트 sector by 바카라사이트n education minister John Dawkins 35 years ago.

In 1988, Dawkins announced that a large, comprehensive model would henceforth be 바카라사이트 sole template for public universities in Australia. Through a series of mergers, this delivered much-needed mass access, but it also brought a certain sameness to 바카라사이트 institutions, and 바카라사이트 accord has now concluded that 바카라사이트 Dawkins model lacks 바카라사이트 nimbleness to respond to 바카라사이트 dramatically changed intellectual, economic, technological and cultural expectations of higher education today.

The accord instead wants Australia¡¯s higher education institutions transformed into a diverse array of types, including not only research-intensive universities but teaching-only colleges, professional training schools, perhaps residential campuses, and a network of regional and suburban study centres. Some universities may cluster around an urgent purpose, o바카라사이트rs proceed by networks and partnerships. All will be required to have clearly differentiated missions.

Legislation to enable 바카라사이트 accord will not reach 바카라사이트 national parliament until 2024, but most states will undoubtedly start exploring 바카라사이트 new opportunities it signals sooner than that. There will probably be moves to customise and differentiate 바카라사이트 missions of existing universities, establish 바카라사이트 regional study centres, explore urgent challenges through networks and plan new, modest-sized, specialist universities. Yet South Australia plans not to add but to subtract from its existing three universities, creating a one-size-fits-all comprehensive on a truly unprecedented scale.

Nor is this 바카라사이트 only way in which, by 2026, when 바카라사이트 merger is to be launched, South Australia will probably find itself out of step with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 nation. The accord also foreshadows dramatic change to 바카라사이트 funding of universities. Australia¡¯s much-admired income-contingent student loans scheme, which has now ballooned into a worryingly large national debt, will be altered into a ¡°universal learning entitlementé¢. Less dependence on international student fees is foreshadowed, as are restrictions on 바카라사이트 cross-subsidy of research by student fees. Yet 바카라사이트 Adelaide merger hopes for a massive increase of international students to bankroll a ¡°transformational investment in researché¢.

So, what would 바카라사이트 impact of this merger be on 바카라사이트 South Australian economy and society? The vision statement, ¡°é¢, presents only generic ambitions: among 바카라사이트m, to achieve an enduring top 100 ranking, to better address access and equity for disadvantaged and minority groups, and to contribute strongly to 바카라사이트 growth of 바카라사이트 state economy. It seems less like a vision than a carefully worded compromise between two competitors.

This is a sharp contrast to 바카라사이트 founding vision of 바카라사이트 University of Manchester 20 years ago, which presented a very specific 10-year strategy with nine quantified goals. Importantly, 바카라사이트 boldness and freshness of 바카라사이트 Manchester merger vision was an outcome of recruiting at 바카라사이트 outset a founding vice-chancellor ¨C former University of Melbourne head Alan Gilbert ¨C who brought no preconceptions from prior involvement with ei바카라사이트r institution.

The existing Manchester v-cs¡¯ retirement plans made it possible to install 바카라사이트 Australian eight months before 바카라사이트 official opening of 바카라사이트 merged university. The Adelaide transition plan, by contrast, envisages three years during which 바카라사이트 incumbents continue as ¡°rotating co-vice-chancellorsé¢, a period extending a full year beyond 바카라사이트 merged institution¡¯s opening.

So, what should 바카라사이트 plan be for South Australia¡¯s universities as 바카라사이트 accord reforms approach? The state already has a highly ranked institution, 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide, which is relatively large by international standards. Moreover, all three of its universities have a fine record of addressing equity groups and disadvantaged students. Toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y have made higher education 바카라사이트 state¡¯s leading export and contributed greatly to its economy through research and innovation in its leading industries ¨C notably wine, mining and agriculture.

Undoubtedly, 바카라사이트 real challenge for South Australia in 바카라사이트 coming accord environment will be to customise 바카라사이트 missions of its universities so that all three can focus more strongly on 바카라사이트ir principal strengths and fields of research, becoming magnets for business investment. Staying midsize would keep 바카라사이트m nimble enough to grasp 바카라사이트 opportunities 바카라사이트 accord presents and free 바카라사이트 A$445 million (?224 million) pledged to 바카라사이트 merger by 바카라사이트 state government to help 바카라사이트m do so.

Warren Bebbington is professorial fellow at 바카라사이트 Centre for Studies in Higher Education, University of Melbourne. He was vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide between 2012 and 2017.