University of the future: a thousand year old industry on the cusp of profound change

This report argues that the higher education sector in Australia is undergoing a fundamental transformation in terms of its role in society, mode of operation, and economic structure and value. To explore these themes and future directions, the authors conducted an industry-wide study of the main forces impacting the higher education industry globally and locally, and the opportunities, challenges and implications for Australian universities. The primary hypothesis is that the dominant university model in Australia, that is, a broad-based teaching and research institution, supported by a large asset base and a large, predominantly in-house back office, will prove unviable in all but a few cases over the next 10-15 years. The report describes the study, key findings and recommended responses. It covers: drivers of change summarised into five key trends (democratisation of knowledge and access; contestability of markets and funding; digital technologies; global mobility; and integration with industry); evolution of the university model along three broad lines (streamlined status quo; niche dominators; and transformers); implications for public universities, policy makers and the private sector; 'how to play' in the future - a proposed framework for assessing and designing a model for the future; and study team and methodology.

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