While universities have traditionally acted as centres for the creation of knowledge, the increasing complexity and rate of transformation of knowledge is placing this role into a new perspective. Past HERDSA conferences have addressed a range of broad issues reflecting on the constantly changing political, economic and societal expectations of higher education. The question arises as to how universities apply and manage knowledge that is created by tertiary education institutions and other knowledge generators. It is in this context that the concept of wisdom, defined as "knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it" is introduced.