Katarina Slavich and Andy Visser
29 August 2019: The Engagement Australia Conference – The role of the Civic University in Australia: The making of a city region – will start today in Brisbane. The University of Canberra will be part of the conversation, with the University’s Chancellor, Professor Tom Calma AO, and Vice-President University Relations and Strategy, Ms Belinda Robinson, sharing their views on a Civic University at two separate addresses.
Professor Tom Calma will be giving the keynote address at the Conference dinner and presentation of the 2019 Business Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) Awards on Thursday evening.
Professor Calma will be addressing the role of civic universities in advocating for social justice issues, including issues pertaining to First Nations Australians. Professor Calma will be unpacking the strategies that are working and those that aren’t to improve tertiary education outcomes, and to increase knowledge about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and ways of doing.
“Civic universities have real potential to create change,” said Professor Calma.
“Sustainable changes though, can only be realised through the development of meaningful partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, communities and people. When programs are co-designed with first nations peoples, we see better results.”
“This is not a new concept. It is something that I, and many of my colleagues, have been advocating for, for decades.
“Australian universities must rise to the challenge of developing quality, mutually beneficial partnerships with first nations peoples.”
Ms Robinson will be presenting a paper titled Hands up if you’re not a ‘civic university’: Defining what it means to be truly civic.
“All universities are part of concentrated geographies; our people are part of these communities and many of our students are too. And we engage in many directions. How could it be any other way?” Ms Robinson said.
“But leadership has many forms and expressions, formal and informal. I think we are all reasonably good at knowing the formal structures of leadership landscape in our geographies – the business chambers, the regional development associations, the Government supported policy forums, the community associations, other education institutions, the lead companies and individuals who always pop up in the public discourse.
“But leadership can also mean stepping up to drag things from the front, and if necessary, bring others along for the ride. That is the challenge of local leadership that truly civic universities must embrace.”
Broad consultation across the University of Canberra has revealed a strong and enthusiastic response to the ‘civic university’ concept and there have been many ideas provided by staff and students on how we might give it effect.
“Indeed, many great examples and projects have been uncovered on how UC is already treading the place-based mission pathway,” said Ms Robinson.
“But we haven’t come from this position, looking from inside out. We have also asked the community around us and near us what they think about us, through comprehensive market research. That work has confirmed broad public support for greater visibility and for our University to be more actively engaged in the civic life of the community.”
The Engagement Australia Conference will run over two days from 29–30 August 2019.