The commercialized Australian public university: an accountingized transition

Parker, L. , Sardesai, A. and Guthrie, J. (2023) The commercialized Australian public university: an accountingized transition. Financial Accountability and Management, 39(1), pp. 125-150. (doi: 10.1111/faam.12310)

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Abstract

This paper explores the impact of neoliberalism on Australia's public higher education system. It examines flaws in the university system revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies how the conditions created by neoliberal policies have limited universities' capacity to respond to a crisis. The paper reviews the previous literature on universities, neoliberalism policies, and new public management practices. It uses data from the literature, newspapers, and contemporary documents to shape an overview of the Australian public sector university system up to 2021 and its transformation by stealth. The impact of this transformation has been a heavy reliance on international onshore student fees to fund operations, infrastructure, and research activities. COVID-19-related public health measures have caused a significant downturn in the number of international students studying in Australia, in turn, creating a financial crisis that has seen many tens of thousands of university staff losing their jobs and courses being cut. The transformation has also seen accountingization of both individual academic and university performance to become the norm. The quantified performance metrics associated with accountingization have become universities' new language, and their goal displaced ends. Revenue generation and expenditure has been privileged over making a contribution to the nation and society. We call for a radical rethinking of the public sector university mission for the ultimate benefit of the Australian community.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Parker, Professor Lee
Authors: Parker, L., Sardesai, A., and Guthrie, J.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Accounting and Finance
Journal Name:Financial Accountability and Management
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0267-4424
ISSN (Online):1468-0408
Published Online:01 November 2021
Copyright Holders:Copyright ©2021 John Wiley and Sons Ltd
First Published:First published in Financial Accountability and Management 39(1): 125-150
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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