Higher education policy post-election

6 September 2004

The direction of higher education policy in Australia following the 9 October Federal election is under discussion at a seminar being hosted by the Monash Centre for Research in International Education (MCRIE) tomorrow.

'When the ballot's lost and won, where is "scholarship" heading?' -- is the third of four seminars in the Monash University series Higher education policy in advance of the next Australian Federal election. The series, which involves leading commentators on higher education in Australia, is aimed at exploring the potential policy changes that may occur following this year's election.

Presenters include Professor Mark Considine, director - Centre for Research in International Education at the University of Melbourne, Professor Graeme Hugo, professor of Human Geography at the University of Adelaide, and Dr Julie Wells, acting director - Planning, Quality and Performance at RMIT University. Monash deputy vice-chancellor, Professor Stephen Parker, will chair the seminar.

Professor Hugo has published numerous reports on the demographic make-up of Australia's academic workforce. Using a range of data, his seminar paper shows that an ageing academic workforce is one of the greatest challenges facing Australia's universities.

Dr Wells has a long track record of professional work and publications in the field of higher education and research policy. She was recently appointed chair of the Policy committee for the national College of the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences. Her seminar paper looks at the role of government in creating and maintaining a scholarly culture in our university system.

Professor Considine co-wrote The Enterprise University with Professor Simon Marginson, director of Monash's Centre for Research in International Education. His seminar paper looks at the practicalities of academic work in the future, as well as questions of academic governance.

Who: Professor Mark Considine, Professor Graeme Hugo, Dr Julie Wells
When: Tuesday, 7 September from 4.30pm to 6.40pm
Where: Monash City premises, Level 7, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne

Media wishing to attend should RSVP to Helen Mclean on +61 3 9905 1345 or email helen.mclean@adm.monash.edu.au

For further information contact Karen Stichtenoth in Media Communications on +61 3 9905 1253. For program details and copies of papers, email Dr Tom Clark at tom.clark@education.monash.edu.au or phone +61 3 9905 2878.