News

Alan Gilbert challenges higher education 'heresies'

Media Release, Wednesday 8 October 2003

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, Professor Alan Gilbert, who has played a leading role in progressing the higher education debate in Australia will deliver the 2003 Robert Menzies Oration on Higher Education tomorrow (Thursday 9 October).

The annual Oration is part of a University of Melbourne higher degree conferring ceremony beginning at 5.30 pm in the Basement Theatre, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne.

In the Oration, Professor Gilbert will challenge "Some Heretical Ideas on Universities", warning that the values traditionally placed on knowledge for its own sake are in danger of being abandoned, along with the idea of universities as civilizing institutions.

The Oration will explore a series of 'heretical' ideas about universities, which are calling previously non-negotiable elements into question. These 'heretical' ideas include the 'single mission heresy' that all universities should undertake a significant level of research, and the idea that the only proper way to fund universities is through public funding.

But Professor Gilbert will make his major attack on the threat of the exclusively 'instrumental' university - the modern university turned into a narrow, instrumental, utilitarian institution - which he describes as "the greatest evil".

WHAT: Menzies Oration on Higher Education
WHEN: 5.30 pm on Thursday 9 October 2003
WHERE: Basement Theatre, Sidney Myer Asia Centre,
University of Melbourne (on Swanston Street)


*An embargoed copy of Professor Gilbert's Oration will be available on Thursday 9 October by contacting Christina Buckridge on 03 8344 6158 or 0412 101 316.