Macquarie University V-C Steven Schwartz Chats to the Guardian. (September 29, 2011)

The Guardian's Eliza Anyangwe reports in the Guardian on an interview with Steven Schwartz who took over the vice-chancellorship of Macquarie University in 2006.

Professor Schwartz after listing his accomplishments regarding  his goal "to turn Macquarie into an internationally recognised research university" turned to his daily routine some excerpts: "On a daily level it would go: meeting, another meeting, another meeting, and then another meeting. Then after the meetings, there is all the problem solving, report writing, dealing with the administration of a large university. It's busy. It's fun, mostly.

"...I didn't start life thinking "when I grow up I want to be a vice-chancellor", but someone has to run universities and it's good if that someone is passionate about teaching, research, education, scholarship, and putting it all in the mix to create an innovative university environment. I am passionate about higher education, about the future of our students and I try to keep that passion burning throughout the interminable meetings."

Ms Anyangwe then requested he talk about the climate in Australian higher education at the moment? Can you relate to any of the reforms happening in the UK?

"Higher education in Australia is in some kind of transition. Next year we move to a partially deregulated system – from 2012 an uncapped student demand-driven system will be introduced... Under the new arrangement we can, in theory, enrol as many students as we can handle... This has to be set beside a downturn in the number of overseas students coming to Australia – universities have used fees from international students to cross-subsidise other areas... However a recent government review has proposed changes to visa requirements for students enrolled at Australian universities – this will help to maintain an internationally competitive international education sector.

"Having said that, I think the Australian system is far more stable at this time than in the UK where tuition fee increases and a decline in taxpayer funding for higher education is creating a lot of uncertainty."

What are the main challenges and opportunities facing both your institution, and Australian higher education more generally?

"Because of the perceived quality of their universities, the UK and the US are already more popular destinations for international students than Australia... Canada, Ireland and New Zealand are also increasing their recruitment efforts. Even universities in non-English speaking countries are joining the competition, offering increasing numbers of their courses in English. We need to make the best use of our time, facilities, and new technology to reach our students."

And what about the future, what's next for higher education in Australia?

"No one can predict how knowledge will evolve, so graduates in any field need to know how to keep learning long after they leave university. Rather than teach students what to think, universities must remain true to their heritage and help them to learn how to think. Graduates also need to be given a chance to follow the Delphic oracle's command to "know thyself", which must involve exposure to the great works of our and others' cultures.

"A university education ought to produce educated men and women who understand the world, the culture in which they will live, and their place in it. All this may be difficult to achieve for every student in every course in every university, but it should nonetheless be our aim.

"I hope that in some way I will remain involved in championing the cause of universities and their need to adapt."