Obiter dicta by Professor Gavin Brown AO

Andean Reflection

2 July 2004:

This column is being written from Santiago, for the University of Chile is this year's host of the President's meeting of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU). The group brings together research intensive universities, both public and private, from many different backgrounds. In addition to Sydney, ANU and Auckland from Australasia we had on this occasion, strong representation from China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Korea; from Russia (Far Eastern University in Vladivostok) and Canada (University of British Columbia); from the Philippines; and of course, from the west coast of the United States (Oregon and the University of Southern California, as well as several representatives of the University of California system).

Next year's meeting will be held in Singapore and will be so arranged as to incorporate a round table with the Association of American Universities (AAU) which includes all the major US research universities and acts as their lobby group. I am pleased to say that the 2006 meeting will be hosted by the University of Sydney. That will be the tenth annual meeting of the Association which also organises several special purpose satellite meetings in the course of the year. For example, a forum for postgraduate students (open also to non-APRU members) will be held at the University of Sydney this August.

The President's meeting is a useful networking event, for the turnover of heads is surprisingly brisk, as well as a forum for exchange of views and information. Indeed, I am one of only four founding presidents remaining.

One of the most striking facts which I learned this year is the way in which the Singapore government encourages private benefaction. Gifts to universities attract a 200 per cent tax deduction and, in the case of the National University, generate also a matching sum provided by government to the institution.

Accordingly, a donor who gives $10 million receives a reduction of $20 million in taxable income, whilst the university receives also $20 million, half being paid direct by the government. But there's more! In the case of a less developed university the government raises its contribution to three times that of the original donation.
We heard also that the University of Southern California set out a seven year US$1 billion campaign but had to readjust its target to $3 billion so great was the response. That university operates on a twin pillar policy of high fees and high student aid. The engine room of their campaign was energised by their deans with central coordination by the Development office and major solicitations finalised personally by the President. The core activity was friend raising and ongoing potentially interested supporters in the university's activities and aspirations. Perhaps surprisingly, almost 50 per cent of gifts came from non-alumni.

Every country is struggling to find a way of increasing student access while capping government funding. When access is measured by the percentage of high school students achieving university entrance, Australia appears to be the most successful country; although the Californians would claim that the top tiers of their three tier system is what could be compared with Australia. That line of argument calls for greater differentiation of missions within our system.

What about the awards for the best kids in the class? The US universities are comparatively so well resourced that their performance is strongest. It is interesting, however, that they are experiencing funding pressures and are seriously concerned that their country's current immigration policy is diverting overseas students to Australia. The prize for improvement must go to China where the exponential development of the major research universities is stunning.

These rencontres give a gentle but clear wake-up call to Australia. Reviews, analysis and structural reform are a prelude to action rather than action itself. This university has been swift to respond to the Nelson package. We need to continue with bold initiatives because the rest of the world is not standing still.