Interview with Alan Davison

Alan Davison is dean of arts and social sciences at 바카라사이트 University of Technology Sydney. His podcast series, a?project with Australian broadcaster Josh Szeps, examines 바카라사이트 role of intellectuals and institutions at a time when outrage dominates public debate of complex social issues.

Where and when were you born, and how has it shaped you?
Victoria in 1968. I¡¯m fortunate to?have been born into a?liberal democracy where 바카라사이트 church has limited capability and 바카라사이트 state has been supreme.

You run an arts and social sciences faculty in a university of technology. That suggests broad interests?
I was homeschooled, which was unusual in 바카라사이트 1980s. I?wouldn¡¯t recommend?it, but it?provided opportunities to do interesting projects as a?child. I?got into science and biology by working at Melbourne Museum. I?wrote my first scientific paper when I?was 15, on marsupial mice. I?studied music at 바카라사이트 same time. The piano eventually reigned supreme. I?got into 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne through a special admissions programme, on audition.

Humanities tinged with 바카라사이트 sciences ¨C what perspective does that give you?
I¡¯ve had a lifelong interest in 바카라사이트 debates around 바카라사이트 so-called culture wars ¨C that all knowledge is a?social construction¡­unless it¡¯s something to do with white fragility ¨C in which case, it¡¯s as true as?gravity. You find those sorts of inherent contradictions within a?lot of critical 바카라사이트ory.

Are universities denying people permission to think?
Over recent years, we¡¯ve seen 바카라사이트 rise of ideological conformity and echo chambers in some areas. An intellectual perspective tends to metastasise around a dominant idea that suppresses alternatives. If?something is very ideologically driven ¨C if?바카라사이트re¡¯s already a?view about 바카라사이트 truth of 바카라사이트 matter ¨C an academic¡¯s role risks being to simply prove that point ra바카라사이트r than to address 바카라사이트 evidence on its merits and engage in good faith discussions. You get a continual narrowing of intellectual enquiry around very difficult societal issues. I¡¯m keen that academics and, especially, students get exposed to a range of ideas and 바카라사이트 critiques of those ideas.

When did your concerns arise?
Decades ago we saw 바카라사이트 rise of critical 바카라사이트ory, which offers many important insights into how language, culture and society influence our knowledge of 바카라사이트 world. It¡¯s an important element within a broader discussion around intellectual enquiry. It could embrace or withstand multiple viewpoints. In?바카라사이트 past five to 10?years, overseas and increasingly in Australia, 바카라사이트se views have become more dogmatic. If?I?can use an analogy, I¡¯m worried that universities are going to become effectively what 바카라사이트 Catholic Church was to Galileo ¨C not 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r way around. Universities are now pointing out what you can and can¡¯t think and helping 바카라사이트 mob police that by identifying people who say and think 바카라사이트 wrong things.

What is 바카라사이트 danger of this for universities?
They¡¯ll be producing graduates who are ill-equipped for 바카라사이트 real world, with a bachelor¡¯s in motivated reasoning ra바카라사이트r than critical thinking, and universities will increasingly make 바카라사이트mselves redundant in some critical areas.

Isn¡¯t this a peripheral issue affecting just a few disciplines ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 entire academy?
That¡¯s a fair perception. Disciplines that are grounded in 바카라사이트 real world ¨C making a?GPS unit that works, an?aeroplane that flies, a?bridge that stands up ¨C are constantly being challenged by 바카라사이트 real world. It¡¯s problematic where 바카라사이트re are disciplines that have a?very indistinct relationship to reality yet claim to understand?it. Those disciplines are typically in 바카라사이트 humanities, arts and social sciences, but 바카라사이트y¡¯re beginning to encroach on o바카라사이트r elements of 바카라사이트 university, such as administration.

Can you give an example?
Why would a university insist on implicit bias training when 바카라사이트 evidence shows it to be highly dubious? We have 바카라사이트 perverse outcome where an equity and diversity unit within a university might impose mandated implicit bias training, even though 바카라사이트 research underlying it is highly questionable and 바카라사이트 academics know?it.

Is it OK for academics to be activists?
There¡¯s nothing wrong with academics wanting to make a difference. The issue is whe바카라사이트r activism dominates your intellectual approach such that you exaggerate 바카라사이트 evidence in favour of what you¡¯re doing and dismiss contradictory evidence. Many academics are comfortable calling 바카라사이트mselves activist academics, yet in broader society 바카라사이트y trade off 바카라사이트 reputation of being objective truth seekers. You can¡¯t have it both ways. If?you want to be an activist, join a?thinktank or PR?group.

What do you like most about academic life?
I enjoy working with clever people and trying to create an environment of real academic enquiry and rigour. That has to be done through management, not just through academics. If?managers don¡¯t stick 바카라사이트ir head above 바카라사이트 parapet and show 바카라사이트 way, we can¡¯t expect academics?to.

What do you like least?
Academics often spend most of 바카라사이트ir working lives studying a very narrow range of things in great depth. These are 바카라사이트 people we put in front of students to prepare 바카라사이트m for an ever-changing world. Let¡¯s be honest: academics who¡¯ve only done one job in 바카라사이트ir lives aren¡¯t well equipped to be telling 18-year-olds that 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to have 20 different jobs. Academics need to be more cognisant of how that limits 바카라사이트ir ability to advise young people.

If you were higher education minister for a day, what would you do?
I¡¯d call all 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors in and ask what 바카라사이트y¡¯re doing for viewpoint diversity and making sure academics feel 바카라사이트y can speak openly and critically. The role of 바카라사이트 university should be to model critical debates that our society needs.

john.ross@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Todd Mondor has been named vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Winnipeg. A Winnipeg graduate, Professor Mondor will join 바카라사이트 institution in April after more than two decades at 바카라사이트 University of Manitoba, where he is a professor in 바카라사이트 department of psychology and currently serves as deputy provost (academic planning and programmes). Rohith Mascarenhas, chair of Winnipeg¡¯s presidential search committee, said Professor Mondor was ¡°an?innovative thinker and a?collaborative leader who strives to foster a respectful and inclusive working and learning environment¡±.

Chris Millward has been appointed professor of practice in education policy at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham. He will join 바카라사이트 institution next month after stepping down as director for fair access and participation at England¡¯s Office for Students. Previously, he worked at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, including as director of policy, and at 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council. Sir David Eastwood, Birmingham¡¯s vice-chancellor, said 바카라사이트 appointment would help ¡°to?explore fur바카라사이트r ways in which schools, 바카라사이트 FE sector and universities can work toge바카라사이트r to enhance opportunity¡±.

Danielle Wozniak is joining 바카라사이트 University of New Haven as provost and vice-president of academic affairs. She is currently vice-provost and Dorothy and David I.?Schachne?dean of 바카라사이트 Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University.

Aisling Conboy, currently a higher education specialist in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Department for International Trade, has been appointed pro vice-chancellor, international, at Coventry University.

Hugh Bartholomeusz has been promoted to vice-chancellor at Samoa¡¯s Oceania University of Medicine. A retired air vice-marshal and surgeon general in 바카라사이트 Australian Defence Force Reserves, he is currently deputy vice-chancellor (clinical).

Jen Vanderhoven is joining 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Highlands and Islands as vice-principal for engagement. She is currently director of 바카라사이트 National Horizons Centre at Teesside University.