Chancellor

• When he released the Universities Accord interim report last week, Education Minister Jason Clare drew attention to the echidna on the front cover.
• To offer up a few big spiky ideas.
• But overhanging the whole accord debate is the spikiest question of all: increasing public funding for universities and academic research in a cost-of-living crisis.

What does the report say?

• The report acknowledges many stakeholders have been arguing that research funding needs to be “put on a sounder and more predictable footing”.
• It also notes the current research grant system does not cover the full cost of research, with universities having to pick up the rest of the bill.

The history and politics of uni funding

• The basic political reason is no education minister (even if they wanted to and most have not wanted too) can convince their colleagues there are votes in university funding.
• Or as former University of Melbourne vice-chancellor and current head of the Prime Minister’s Department Glyn Davis noted in 2015:
  all recent governments have cut university funding per student in real terms.
• all recent governments have cut university funding per student in real terms.

But this continues to be a problem

This is a simple way to understand university funding in Australia. In 1998, federal funding for university research was 0.3% of GDP. As of 2021 it was 0.17%. Australian National University vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt has also noted, Australian government expenditure on academic research as a percentage of GDP is the lowest among the world’s advanced economies.

How unis have responded so far

• Consequently, non-government sources of university revenue increased from 21.7% 1995 to 43% in 2019.
• About $6 billion came from the government while $6 billion came from universities’ own funds, of which $3 billion was from overseas student fees.

An international student levy

• It does so by floating a levy on international student fees.
• The University of Melbourne’s vice-chancellor Duncan Maskell said he believes the levy is “likely to undermine Australia’s global reputation”.
• Read more:
  International students are returning to Australia, but they are mostly going to more prestigious universities

International students as soft diplomacy?

• It says it sees international education
  less as an industry and more as a crucial element of Australia’s soft diplomacy, regional prosperity and development.
• less as an industry and more as a crucial element of Australia’s soft diplomacy, regional prosperity and development.
• International students today have a lot of choice as to where to study, and Western values rank low on their list of priorities.

We simply need more funds

• We cannot do this by simply rearranging the system.
• We need a target to increase university funding in line with other OECD countries.
• But to do this, difficult political discussions need to be had – and cabinet needs to be convinced to put funds where they are needed, but not necessarily where they will win votes.

• Crucially, the lawsuit alleges boasting from Wachtell about their “preeminent Delaware litigation experience” given attorney Leo Strine’s former role as Chancery Court Chancellor and Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice.
• We condemn the Chancery Court, Wachtell, and Leo Strine for continuing to enable this bad behavior in case after case.
• In 2022, Wachtell approached Twitter, touting its expertise in Delaware's litigation practices and highlighting the inclusion of Strine as part of their team.
• For more information on Citizens for Judicial Fairness, visit citizensforjudicialfairness.org
  View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230710064063/en/

• As the first black woman to hold the position of Chancellor, Dr. Meisha Porter made history while overseeing the education of 1.1 million students across more than 1,800 schools.
• Dr. Porter served in various roles at LGJ, including Community Coordinator, Internship Coordinator, English teacher, Assistant Principal, and eventually Principal in 2004.
• “It is truly my pleasure to join such a fantastic organization in an advisory capacity,” said Dr. Porter.
• "Her deep expertise in education, coupled with her unwavering dedication to equity, make her an invaluable addition to our team.

• HOUSTON, June 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Shook, Hardy & Bacon adds Partner James Mayor to expand the firm's M&A and corporate strength.
• But with the addition of Mayor, the firm expands its corporate services and capabilities, particularly in M&A.
• "We're excited James is joining our team," said Shook Partner Sandra Hawley, who chairs Shook's Corporate Services Practice.
• "James is a game-changer for Shook in corporate services," said Shook Chair Madeleine McDonough.