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Universities are not Businesses ... But Wait, It’s Complicated
Australian universities are public institutions, not businesses, yet they mix public purpose with commercial activity. This Insight examines how universities compete for students, manage related entities, invest in property and markets, and why transparent reporting must distinguish charitable and commercial operations to maintain public trust and financial clarity.
Dr John H Howard
Sep 124 min read
From Public Good to Corporate Enterprise: The Financialisation of Universities - Causes, Consequences, and What Must Be Done
Australian universities have transformed from public institutions into corporate enterprises through commercial accounting standards. With $40 billion in combined revenue and $110 billion in assets, they now prioritise financial metrics over academic mission. This shift compromises traditional roles of knowledge creation, critical inquiry and community engagement, forcing institutions to treat education as a business rather than a public good.
Dr John H Howard
Sep 99 min read
Addressing Problems, Not Symptoms: The Decline of R&D in Australia – Causes, Consequences, and Solutions.
Imagine an Australia where innovation flourishes: industry makes bold R&D investments, universities collaborate, and Government is a partner
Dr John H Howard
Mar 35 min read
Reimagining Australia's Research Future: Strategic Overhaul for Innovation and Impact
The Review is an opportunity to reshape Australia's research system, aiming for a coherent, future-facing model that boosts investment.
Dr John H Howard
Oct 29, 20248 min read
STEM Skills Alone Won’t Create Australia’s Innovation Future
Australia's future prosperity hinges on its ability to understand and foster all forms of innovation, not just high-tech.
Dr John H Howard
Oct 22, 20243 min read
Beyond the Rankings: Benchmarking for Real University Success
University rankings have become something of an obsession, with institutions fixated on where they stand in the latest league tables.
Dr John H Howard
Oct 15, 20246 min read
Innovation in higher education happens through social capital
28 November, 2022 The federal government should consider co-investing in joint state-university innovation partnerships that have the...
Dr John H Howard
Mar 27, 20243 min read
Jobs and Skills: Don’t overlook the talent for research
26 Aug 2022. The last section of the Jobs+Skills Summit Issues Paper argues, quite correctly, that maximising the opportunities from...
Dr John H Howard
Mar 27, 20246 min read
Publish or Perish: Escaping the hamster wheel of academic research pursuits
27 November 2023. Recently, the issue of “Publish-or-Perish” has come back onto the Australian science policy agenda, with the Chief...
Dr John H Howard
Mar 27, 20245 min read
Underlying tension between mission and money in our universities
29 October, 2020. The corporatisation of the Higher Education System is complete. It is no longer driven by the community of science but...
Dr John H Howard
Oct 30, 20205 min read
Towards a Reset for National Higher Education Policy
22 October 2022 The expansion of the public university sector due to a boom in international revenues and the subsequent impact of...
Dr John H Howard
Oct 22, 20204 min read
Can Australian Higher Education withstand the Financial Shock of the COVID-19 pandemic?
As published in The Australian, 1 April, 2020 Australian Higher Education is potentially in a better position to withstand the likely...
Dr John H Howard
Apr 3, 20205 min read
The 2019 VET Review must address implementation issues
On 28 November 2018, the Australian Government announced another review – this time into the Australian vocational education and training...
Dr John H Howard
Jan 10, 20194 min read
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