University of Newcastle V-C tells the Government to Get Real. (October 29, 2007)

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, Professor Nicholas Saunders, today was given a chance by The Sydney Morning Herald to sling a couple of hundred well chosen words at our political leaders.

"Universities are important drivers of our national economic, social and cultural success, and thus funding of Australian universities and higher education is central to this community interest," Professor Saunders says.

But you can just hear the political advisors telling the power brokers telling the party leaders, "So what, if it don't bring immediate gratification to the punters it ain't a vote getter." And of course Mr Howard knows for a fact that the universities are stacked with pinko ratbags who have to be dragooned into line.

It remains to be seen if the Labor Party, led by Kevin Rudd will view matters differently and effectively so. So for example, apart from funding redressing the woeful state of the universities, will Labor recognise the counter-productive effect of the increasing micromanagement perpetrated by the Coalition government?

Labor's education spokesman Stephen Smith told the ABC: "What we need is a long-term enduring commitment which understands that investing in our universities, investing in higher education, investing in teaching and learning and research are absolutely essential to our economic and social prosperity, absolutely essential to our future. That's what we've been saying all year. And obviously in the course of the forthcoming weeks, people can expect to see that reflected in concrete election commitments."

Professor Saunders tells us: "Most people think of universities as places of teaching, learning and research; they do not consider them economic engine rooms alongside industry... [However,] spending in the higher education arena has a substantial economic multiplier impact. Every dollar spent on higher education provides about a $3 return through flow-on spending.

"Teaching and research are core functions of universities. Our graduates are educated and thoughtful leaders of enterprise, armed to deal with the challenges of a complex society. The researchers in universities push the boundaries of knowledge, developing new innovations and solutions, paving the way for new technologies. We foster today's thinkers and tomorrow's leaders."

And the Newcastle University vice-chancellor goes on to list the universities' contributions to the nation's social and cultural fabric including the contribution through educating international students.

He also has this to say in a general piece of advice as to how to treat the sector: "Government investment in universities should support and encourage innovation, and a degree of risk-taking. Funding should reward performance, support potential and provide a measure of certainty and security. Confidence in predictability of reasonable funding levels provides a platform to launch longer-term strategies alongside day-to-day operations."

Were Labor to assume government, the universities should know within a couple of months whether they will be in a prescriptive or consultative relationship. On that point Labor is currently an enigma and when it does come to release its higher education policy that may well remain.