Australian Privatisation of Universities and Research Organisations – have a think about

Key Reasons

• Easier for Private Organisations to implement technology (key to realising below scenarios)
• Specialisation: An Australian University could specialise in Medical Disciplines and Medical Research!
• Profitability: Australian Universities better positioned in Export Markets (esp: China & Asia)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privatization

• More educational content now on Wikipedia, Google etc … than going to a public University
• Or calling the Support line of your ISP!
• That’s not to forget very good Microsoft curricula! ;)
• All you need is computer and a fast Internet connection.
• Global Mega-corporations do have the power to muscle others around in Education - Australian Universities have to evolve!
• And the best example (I think) of compelling Universities in this direction:
• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia !! 
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
• Of course Universities don't really teach from Wikipedia so much, more Textbooks and Journals!!  
  

 

Global Companies in Education

• Of course we are getting more influence now from Global companies
• Cisco, Apple, Google, Microsoft!
• Encourage these companies to get more involved in Australian vocational sector! – that is teaching their curriculums
• Even Facebook has a great productive use when you go back to Uni! (sort of)

• In USA you can get degrees in garbage collecting – we would not go that far here but diversity in Tertiary Education is encouraged!
• More quantity and quality of Certificates & Diplomas in Vocational Sector
• Allow closer co-operation between Universities & TAFE and encourage more Exit Points e.g. Degree to Graduate Certificate or Diploma

 

Accredited Courses (Australia)

• Retain core of HECS system and Youth Allowance / AUS Study
• More Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma Exit Points for Universities
• Better position Australian University Graduates to compete in Global marketplace and work for Global companies
• Increase quantity of quality Graduates

Exciting Possibilities

• Encourage Consolidation (with better Australian transport)
• Merge UTS with QUT and operate 2 main campuses in Brisbane & Sydney
• Charles Sturt University could merge with USQ to form a Regional University
• Twinning Programs with US or Japanese or European Universities
• E.g. Complete first 1 or 2 years in Australia – finish off degree in US and receive degree from there
• Encourage Global M&A of Australian Universities
• Oxford & Cambridge to buy G8 Australian University
• Stanford (or whoever) to buy Australian Technology University
• $$$ University of Tokyo to buy some Australian Universities $$$

Student Loans should be considered as alternatives to paying cash

• Becoming more difficult to work part time and study part time or full time etc …
• Conditions for unskilled jobs becoming worse & worse & worse
• Also situation is not ideal as you need to devote time to study not serving 2 masters – therefore affects quality of qualification
• Need to look at more Student Loans (e.g. ANZ, Westpac, etc …) possibly from private sector for certain courses especially those with a high graduate employment rate

This issue will never die!
The issue keeps coming up but perhaps one needs to make the right arguments to make it happen!
No doubt in the Australian situation a DIFFERENTIAL Privitisation approach is required!

A complex issue - I would say Microsoft would have to play a part.

At the end of the day - think about it this way - it is about people achieving their hopes & dreams!