Education and public policy in Australia: A reply

Marginson, Simon

doi:10.1080/17508487.1995.9558574

Cited by 4 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Second, global and national economic recessions, and particularly the GFC of 2008–2011 and its ongoing effects, have resulted in calls for budget austerity, attempts at budget repair, the reduction of “unsustainable levels of public debt and expenditure” and consequent cutbacks in government spending (Bracci et al , 2015, p. 881). These responses increasingly acknowledge that higher education, as well as providing public benefits (Lewis and Pendlebury, 2002), provides significant private benefits (Perna, 2003; Marginson, 2013). These justify its funding being shared between governments and individuals.…”

Section: Global Trends and The Australian Hesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The government goal of increasing the percentage of younger Australians with a university education becomes problematic when balanced against the global trend for governments to retreat from earlier commitments to funding higher education (Marginson, 2002). It is unsurprising, therefore, that public policy about university funding has been described as “incoherent” and “a long problem without a solution”, as debate proliferates about who will be responsible for funding the expansion of higher education (Marginson, 2013, pp. 69, 59).…”

Section: Global Trends and The Australian Hesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This involves reducing Australia’s debt by balancing the budget through increased government revenues and reduced government expenditure. Various budgetary measures have been proposed through which the HES can contribute to this endeavour (Marginson, 2013; Warburton, 2016). These include proposals to further reduce funding and de-regulate the sector, and currently, the implementation of a freeze on student funding for university bachelor’s degrees (Creighton, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The financial health of Australian universities: policy implications in a changing environment

Irvine

Ryan

2019

AAAJ

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Purpose In the context of the Australian Government’s attempts to impose budget austerity measures on publicly funded universities in its higher education sector, the purpose of this paper is to assess the sector’s financial health. Design/methodology/approach The multi-dimensional study is based on seven years of government financial data from all 39 publicly funded Australian universities, supplemented by information from universities’ annual reports. Using a financial health model that reflects vulnerability, viability and resilience, the authors examine sector data using a suite of metrics. The authors analyse differences between those universities in the Top 10 and Bottom 10 by revenue, as a window into the financial health of the sector at large. Findings While mostly financially viable, the sector shows signs of financial vulnerability, particularly in the areas of expense control and financial sustainability. Possibly in response to an uncertain funding environment, universities are managing long-term liquidity by growing reserves. Debt represents largely untapped potential for universities, while differences between the Top 10 and Bottom 10 universities were most evident in the area of revenue diversity, a strong predictor of financial viability. Research limitations/implications Focussing on a specific set of financial metrics limits the scope of the study, but highlights further research possibilities. These include more detailed statistical analysis of data, financial case studies of individual universities and the implications of revenue diversification on academic standards. Originality/value The paper contributes to higher education literature, providing empirical evidence of universities’ finances. It highlights the importance of universities’ financial resilience in an uncertain funding environment.

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Section: Global Trends and The Australian Hesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Global Trends and The Australian Hesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The financial health of Australian universities: policy implications in a changing environment

Irvine

Ryan

2019

AAAJ

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“…However, today, with the integration of privatization and marketization in the public sphere, the regression of the welfare state, and the change of legitimacy at the individual and collective levels, national education systems are called on to confront a very different and complex world. The retreat of the state in education provision and financing has left other non‐state actors, such as the market, the family and individuals to take responsibility (Mok, 2006; Hawkins, 2008; Marginson, 2008).…”

Section: Crisis Is Always Epistemicmentioning

confidence: 99%

Education in a complex world: a political question to be answered

Konidari

2011

On the Horizon

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PurposeAfter insisting on the strong coupling between education and society, this paper aims to detect the symptoms of a crisis in education and present the reasons of pathology that testify to the failure of the actual paradigm of thinking.Design/methodology/approachCasting doubt on the economic model approach adopted in recent decades as being inappropriate for the educational field, the author goes from the peripheral question about students' outcomes and schools' effectiveness to the central question of societies' well‐being, arguing that the ultimate goal of education should be to lead individuals to understand how the world functions and help them find new ways to make the world.FindingsThis paper draws on research in literature on school populations (teachers, students). It is suggested that the inappropriateness of the paradigm of thinking adopted has altered education's nature and goals.Originality/valueExposing the main misunderstandings and confusions that has led to the above crisis, two epistemic transpositions are proposed as a way towards a new era.

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“…'Problems' in the post-1975 period around high levels of youth unemployment and other related areas such as Australia's perceived inability to compete effectively internationally due to the perceived absence of scientifically and technically proficient expertise, saw an immediate proliferation of responses in the fonn of 'solutions' (Bessant 1988;Marginson 1993). It was argued that 'poor education standards', youth homelessness, the large numbers of jobless young people, the depressed economy, all such 'problems' could be rectified through a major reform of the national education system (Bessant 1989).…”

Section: Changes In the Experience Of Being Youngmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consolidating an Industry and Prolonging Dependency: Professionals, Policies and Young People

Bessant¹

1995

Aust J Social Issues

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This article examines the nexus between professionalism and the representation of social problems among some young people. It considers how policy and professional interventions involve problem‐setting as well as problem‐solving activities. A central argument is that a primary effect of both professional activities and of major changes to the youth labour market has been an extension of dependency for many young people. No matter how young people experience the disappearance of the youth labour market, the fact remains: most young people have been permanently excluded from full‐time work. As we reach the close of the twentieth century and without essentialising ‘youth’ it seems that more and more young people are unable to live autonomous lives that resemble adulthood until their mid‐twenties. For some young people staying on in education, remaining out of the full‐time labour market until their mid‐twenties may not mark a dramatic shift in their experiences, but for other young people such trends have a dramatic impact on their life‐worlds.

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Education and public policy in Australia: A reply

Cited by 4 publications

References 4 publications

The financial health of Australian universities: policy implications in a changing environment

The financial health of Australian universities: policy implications in a changing environment

Education in a complex world: a political question to be answered

Consolidating an Industry and Prolonging Dependency: Professionals, Policies and Young People

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