Tomás Gómez Gómez’s Post

A recent report from the Higher Education Policy Institute calls for UK universities to move away from the competitive 'world-class university' model and instead adopt collaborative, group-based approaches, learning from countries like the US, France and Germany. The report argues that the current model fuels financial crises and limits access, urging universities to embrace diverse business models that prioritise universal #education and lower costs. It suggests structural reforms and greater collaboration with industries and other sectors. This approach could be significant for higher education in the #SADC region because it emphasises the importance of diversity and collaboration over competition, which could help #universities in the region improve access and quality without over-relying on costly, exclusive models. Embracing similar reforms could enhance capacity, widen access to education, and foster innovation, making it especially relevant for developing #highereducation systems across Southern Africa.

What impact will the Australian Tertiary Education Commission recommended by the Australian Universities Accord have on universities when it is implemented, likely in 18 months? Higher education expert, John Dewar, has published an editorial opinion in The Australian that discusses the major changes this body will bring to higher education in Australia and six strategic decisions universities need to make as a result. Read the full opinion piece https://lnkd.in/gkaY25Y8 #ATEC #highereducation #strategicmanagement

UK Higher Education needs to be looked at "as a system, rather than a market" A very interesting interview with Professor Duncan Ivison, the new vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester. 👨🎓 In a sector that is facing great challenges, Professor Ivison highlights the need for Universities to work together to share resources and infrastructure - something that is already happening within the city of Manchester - "it's all about collaboration and porosity and creating incentives for universities to cooperate at a level we haven't before." 🤝 Going it alone may not be the best way for Universities to navigate the current funding and student challenges. What are ways that Universities can increase collaboration? Shared learning spaces? Shared pastoral and support systems and networks? 🏢 Professor Ivison also warns that UK universities must learn from Canadian and Australian universities when it comes to international students - warning that capping overseas enrolments has not had a positive outcome in either country. He believes "there's a huge opportunity for the government to get it right" and calls for "clarity and stability". Two very interesting and vital threads for UK universities to consider carefully - as we eagerly await this month's budget we will be looking out for any signs of the required clarity and stability. #highereducation #universities #collaboration

🌟 Rethinking Higher Education in the UK 🌟 As we embark on a new academic year, it’s crucial to engage in discussions about the future of our universities. A recent report from the Higher Education Policy Institute calls for a fundamental re-evaluation of the UK’s higher education models, arguing that the current ‘world-class university’ framework hinders access and innovation. The report highlights several key points: 🌍 The UK lags behind other nations in tertiary enrolment rates. 💷 Current business models contribute to a financial crisis within the sector. 🤝 Collaborative approaches could offer higher education at scale and lower cost. At PACT Solutions, we believe that informed discussions are vital for driving positive change. 💬 What are your thoughts on these proposed changes? How do you see them impacting your institution? Join the conversation and let’s explore the future of higher education together! #HigherEducation #UKUniversities #PactSolutions #UniversityProfessionals #EducationInnovation

This article in this week's global edition of #University World News - generates an insightful viewpoint about higher education's future direction within the Australian current context of the implementing the government's commissioned Universities Accord report that was released earlier this year. While we wait for the Australian's federal government to respond fully to the final report, many scholars are looking into the crystal ball to (re)imagine the future of higher education in Australia. This article by Angel Calderon, Hamish Coates, Gwilym Croucher, and Nadine Zacharias dips deeply into (re)imagining higher education in Australia - and its first recommendation is to put students first and at the centre of higher education; and this could start by implementing a Students Accord rather than a Universities Accord. Their article continues by advocating for higher education students and proposes to take actions that support student diversity and their needs from holistic perspectives. While the article is a little long - it contains a lot of worthwhile ideas to ponder...

With a suite of reforms underway, many arising from the Universities Accord Final Report, Australia’s higher education sector is undergoing its biggest shake-up in 15 years. While much of the sector’s focus has been on the risks of moving to a managed market, little attention has been given to the potential upsides of what is envisaged. In this latest article, Nous Principals, Tanya Smith and Peter Wiseman, shine a spotlight on the opportunities arising from the reforms. Read the full article on the Nous website. #EducationProviders #EducationPathways #StudentEngagement

A new report by Universities UK has highlighted the vast economic benefit of higher education institutions in Scotland and across the UK. Teaching, research and innovation activity at all 19 of Scotland’s universities had an economic impact of £17.1 billion, with £8.7 billion coming from research and innovation alone. The document shows that Scotland’s higher education sector offers a better economic return on public investment made in research and innovation than anywhere else in the UK, except London, with a benefit-to-cost ratio of nearly 11:1. More ➡️ https://bit.ly/3XcquB8 Universities Scotland #UniversityImpact

Succinct commentary from a well-informed insider on what the Australian Tertiary Education Commission wants to achieve and why. If you want to get an idea of the future of Aussie higher education and don’t want to read all 400+ pages of the Accord, read this. Its a beautifully written piece on why it’s ok for an “independent” commission for the sector to direct funding towards preferred political aims, over a longer term that will survive this government. Prof Dewar floats the idea of new kinds of Australian universities; universities that choose to teach rather than research; or are more specialized in their preferred disciplines. The ATEC will be directing funding, so the push from on top will dictate what universities can afford and cannot afford to do. Perhaps some institutions are already too big and need to be broken up. Perhaps there is a role for the private sector (but the Accord is a bit nebulous about what that might look like, if at all). Somehow there will be convergence of vocational and university education but it’s not clear how, and that’s up to the ATEC to sort out. Australia doesn’t have much tradition of students moving far from home to go to uni. The nearby, local comprehensive uni could teach business, accounting or engineering just as well as one far away across the country. This will change. Specialist institutions will potentially be more efficient users of funding for the government and maybe improve research. I like the idea of centres of excellence. But it also feels like the longer term may be more expensive for the student. It will also be a boon for PBSA providers, who will likely be offering accomodation for domestic students who may in the future need to travel far from home to study at a more specialized institution. Universities face a very different future

📝 It's the final week to submit abstracts for this special issue of the Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management (JHEPM). Abstracts can be up to 500 words and need to be submitted by 15 June 2024. More information in post and link below.

Vice Chancellor of The Group of Eight member, University of Melbourne, Professor Duncan Maskell says in an op-ed in The Australian today, that to achieve the expansion of access to university called for in the Universities Accord final report – 55% of 23-43 year-olds by 2050 – Australia will need a more diverse higher education landscape and we need to start planning for it now. “We cannot afford to kick the can down the road”, he says, “I urge the government to take steps to scope the expansion and diversification of the Australian tertiary sector immediately and to start to establish networks of mutually supporting diverse institutions to meet the aspirations of students from all backgrounds.” Read Professor Maskell's op-ed here: https://lnkd.in/g9E_Wrzg Vicki Thomson Jason Clare MP Sarah Henderson University of Adelaide The Australian National University Monash University UNSW The University of Queensland University of Sydney The University of Western Australia #highereducation #equityineducation #universitiesAccord