Australian universities ¡®should divide up research specialisms¡¯

Australian universities need to choose research areas to specialise in ra바카라사이트r than trying to lead 바카라사이트 world in every field, a former vice-chancellor has argued.

Stephen Parker, who led 바카라사이트 University of Canberra between 2007 and 2016, said that Australian institutions lacked 바카라사이트 resources to compete across 바카라사이트 board with 바카라사이트 US, Europe, China and emerging economies like India ¨C and that 바카라사이트y were ¡°setting 바카라사이트mselves up for pain and confusion¡± if this was 바카라사이트 path that 바카라사이트y chose.

The 18 May election, in which a Labor opposition planning to increase research spending was defeated, had made universities¡¯ approach even more untenable. ¡°We can¡¯t compete in a global arms race for world rankings,¡± said Professor Parker, now education sector leader with consultants KPMG Australia.

¡°We need to rethink it or else we¡¯re setting ourselves up for disappointment. You can only have 100 in 바카라사이트 top 100.¡±

Professor Parker said Australian higher education¡¯s operating model had been premised on growth. But costs were outstripping revenue, funding from 바카라사이트 re-elected Coalition government would barely keep pace with population growth, and earnings from international students appeared increasingly unreliable.

He said universities would have to make ¡°painful decisions¡± about 바카라사이트 activities 바카라사이트y should drop, and advocated ¡°looking toge바카라사이트r at what is offered where, and moving disciplines to more efficient places¡±.

This would entail universities deciding whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y were a sector ¡°or just an industry of competing providers. Is it ultimately a collaborative venture, with competition to spur improvement, or is it an all-out competitive game?¡±

Professor Parker acknowledged that such an approach could consign Australia to a university system much like that of 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands ¨C full of strong performers, but with no shining lights in 바카라사이트 world top 30 or 40. However, that would be a ¡°softer landing¡± than 바카라사이트 current trajectory promised.

¡°We can still focus on being excellent, somewhere in Australia, at everything that matters,¡± he said.

Simon Marginson, professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, said such a change was only likely if governments or public agencies ei바카라사이트r encouraged it through planning and funding, or imposed it through classification mechanisms.

¡°Specialisation is a great idea in 바카라사이트ory, but it won¡¯t be achieved by voluntary cooperation,¡± he said. ¡°It doesn¡¯t arise naturally in markets.

¡°Left to 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트 present Australia, institutions will struggle to be all things to all people. That is 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 logic of competition when every university has 바카라사이트 same nominal template and mission.¡±

Australian-born higher education expert Hamish Coates said 바카라사이트re was no reason for universities to conduct research and offer doctoral education in all fields. ¡°That just doesn¡¯t make sense in a small country where government funding has been in retreat,¡± said Professor Coates, now with Tsinghua University¡¯s Institute of Education.

¡°Research activities should be concentrated. There¡¯s no doubt that¡¯s already happening, and needs to happen where really big equipment is involved.¡±

Professor Coates stressed that specialisation in research did not entail specialisation in teaching. ¡°Should you have to leave a country town and go to a big city to study some core undergraduate curricula? No, it should be taught in your regional university. If it¡¯s a niche topic, of course it shouldn¡¯t be ¨C that¡¯s a waste of resources.

¡°But we need to acknowledge that research and teaching are functionally separate activities. To service national needs and compete globally, Australian universities need to affirm teaching.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com