Notes to aid Discussion of the Appropriate mix of Funding of Australia’s Public Universities

Gavan Butler, University of Sydney

ABSTRACT

Changes have been made to the provision of post-secondary education in Australia with little evident reflection as to the merit of the existing public universities or the nature of public education. This paper sets out some notes for the discussion that should be happening. It then lists some possible scenarios for change into the next couple of decades and draws attention to some of the implications of these changes for the Australian public universities and the preservation of public higher education. It is the author’s hope that the changes that do occur will be governed by consideration of the nature of higher education as a public good and of the effect of the curriculum on education as a public good.

Gavan Butler is Senior Lecturer in Political Economy in the School of Economics and Political Science and staff elected Fellow of the Senate, The University of Sydney.

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