Really enjoyed this reflective post - it captures the contradictions that we have to accommodate in trying to make wise choices about who to vote for. What stood out to me is that whereas in the past we could look to the university sector to provide well-researched, evidence-based guidance on policy making, this is no longer the case. Some good people doing the best they can but our tertiary sector operates on a business model, with students as consumers. Our universities are typically reluctant to challenge ideas outside the box or demonstrate the courage to address the questions that matter. Even a relatively benign discussion around free speech is seen as controversial - i would have thought this was core business. While there is good research happening outside the university sector, the implications for our democracy is a bit dire with our universities 'missing in action' here as we need the intellectual grunt that should be a key feature of the university sector to advise us if we are to function as a healthy liberal representative democracy.
Thanks for that comment, Mark! Yes, a debate on free speech should be core business, and not difficult, for any university. And, while I could be accused of sour grapes, I agree that the unis are largely MIA. It's not just the fault of management, but academics and students are themselves constrained by fears of being attacked. The Wiles case didn't help. Meanwhile, we urgently need public intellectuals to be talking about the big issues that face us. Cheers, Grant.
Really enjoyed this reflective post - it captures the contradictions that we have to accommodate in trying to make wise choices about who to vote for. What stood out to me is that whereas in the past we could look to the university sector to provide well-researched, evidence-based guidance on policy making, this is no longer the case. Some good people doing the best they can but our tertiary sector operates on a business model, with students as consumers. Our universities are typically reluctant to challenge ideas outside the box or demonstrate the courage to address the questions that matter. Even a relatively benign discussion around free speech is seen as controversial - i would have thought this was core business. While there is good research happening outside the university sector, the implications for our democracy is a bit dire with our universities 'missing in action' here as we need the intellectual grunt that should be a key feature of the university sector to advise us if we are to function as a healthy liberal representative democracy.
Thanks for that comment, Mark! Yes, a debate on free speech should be core business, and not difficult, for any university. And, while I could be accused of sour grapes, I agree that the unis are largely MIA. It's not just the fault of management, but academics and students are themselves constrained by fears of being attacked. The Wiles case didn't help. Meanwhile, we urgently need public intellectuals to be talking about the big issues that face us. Cheers, Grant.
If I haven't already mentioned it, at the heart of the issue is that universities in NZ have devolved from a public good to a perishable good.