Occasional Paper Series
Centre for the Study of Higher Education periodically publishes research through the CSHE Occasional Papers series. Each peer reviewed paper presents new research and analysis on topics significant for Australian and international higher education.
IMAGINING A REVOLUTION IN UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE
This paper outlines an imaginary university Constitution for a possible future where public universities are led and governed by academic staff to a much greater extent. It is intended as a stark alternative to the trend of increasing and detailed state intervention we see in Australia and elsewhere.
Universities are fundamentally different kinds of organisations from corporations in the private sector. They operate in quite different contexts of accountability and control. We need to “forget corporate governance”.
Our argument is not based on nostalgia. A revolution is needed because universities face an increasingly challenging time due to technological, demographic and other forces. Universities, knowing their own context, are better placed to respond to those challenges.
It will not be plain sailing. With power comes responsibility, and academics will need to take on the numerous wicked problems that higher education will face.
The Constitution here is only an example, and there is scope for much variation within the spirit of our model. It is drafted with the Australian system in mind, but could be adapted for many other liberal democracies. The core message is that government needs to retreat and academics need to step forward.
