It is increasingly said that universities are ‘just another business’. They earn income, provide a service, employ thousands and compete against one another for prominence in the market. Yet, to what extent are the parallels drawn between universities and businesses true? The word ‘university’ historically referred to a community: a place where teachers and students, sharing a common pursuit of scholarship gather together to contribute to the public good. Do these qualities still distinguish universities, or have they become ‘just another business’?
The Early Career Academic Network (ECAN) is running its sixth annual Scientia Event with a panel discussion on ‘Big business or an institution for the public good: what is the future of Academia?’ Invited panellists will debate the role of universities in contemporary society, particularly in the current climate with the COVID-19 pandemic and constrained government funding. Our panellists include:
Professor John Dewar AO, Chair of Universities Australia
Professor Gigi Foster, Professor in the School of Economics
Associate Professor Melanie White, Deputy Head of School (Education), the School of Social Sciences
Mr David Burt, Director of Entrepreneurship at UNSW
This event will be moderated by the 2021 UNSW Young Alumni Awardee, Jessie Tu, Journalist at Women's Agenda, critic for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald
This event is FREE but registration is essential. Registered participants will have the opportunity to contribute to the debate by asking questions. Link to this online event will be emailed to registered participants before the event.
Please register before 22nd November 2021.
We look forward to seeing you at the event. If you have any questions, please contact us at ecanexec@unsw.edu.au
