Future Universities: Value for Changing Societies

Abstract

University sectors in Australia and across the world are facing an inflection point in their future trajectories. The COVID-19 pandemic has undermined business models built on international student income, radically changed the student experience and upended norms of academic behaviour - particularly around conferences and travel. It has also exposed a range of long term fragilities and deep challenges for universities to navigate.

The second instalment in the Future Insights Paper series, Future Universities: Value for Changing Societies is authored by the Director of the NSC Futures Hub, Dr. Ryan Young, and produced with input from a wide range of experts concentrated around The Australian National University.

This paper "?? which is based on a longer report by the author titled Australian Universities: Thriving in a Changing World? " is designed to help policy thinkers develop and test futures scenarios, conduct horizon scanning, and integrate futures analysis into their work.

It focuses on two core questions:

What trends and drivers will shape the operating context for Australian universities - particularly research-intensive universities - over the next decade? How can Australian universities ensure ongoing success and deliver increasing societal value?