A tale of two education revolutions: Higher education in 2007

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Research and Development in Higher Education Vol. 30: Enhancing Higher Education, Theory and Scholarship

July, 2007, 651 pages
Published by
Geoffrey Crisp & Margaret Hicks
ISBN
0 908557 72 8
Abstract 

The keynote will analyse and reflect on the state of Australian higher education in an election year, in which both government and opposition have promised an 'education revolution' and the May budget increased annual funding by about 10 per cent. It surveys the global position of the Australian system and institutions, the international education market and issues in that sector; government-institution relations; funding and resources; system organisation, differentiation and institutional mission; tuition, student financing and student engagement; and aspects of teaching and research, including the academic profession. There are many opportunities for innovation and development, especially in the global and Asia-Pacific settings. But policy has become unhelpfully politicised, government has developed a pathological fiscal resistance to making selective investments in tertiary education, especially in its people capacity, and the marketing mentality that is rife in the sector is blocking clarity and generality of vision. A new national policy process is needed.