Arabic version: الجامعة الوطنية الأسترالية تكشف استراتيجية 2030 مع شغور مناصب قيادية
According to ABC News, the Australian National University has released its ANU by 2030 strategy while its chancellor and vice-chancellor positions remain unfilled and a higher education regulator continues investigating the university’s governance. Interim Vice-Chancellor Rebekah Brown said she was seeking to move beyond controversies that damaged the institution’s reputation and finances.
Professor Brown took the interim role after former vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell resigned in September last year, following pressure from staff and students to step down over the controversial $250 million Renew ANU savings plan, which included job cuts. An Australian National Audit Office report later found ANU’s then-leaders had no clear evidence that cuts were needed under the now-abandoned plan. Former chancellor Julie Bishop resigned in May, several months before her term was due to end.
Asked about allegations that she had acted against Professor Bell, Professor Brown denied them. “Of course, none of that is true,” she said. She said she hoped council members had put previous grievances behind them and did not rule out seeking the vice-chancellor role permanently. ABC News reported that the vacant senior posts were unlikely to be filled before the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency completes its governance probe.
The strategy describes ANU as the country’s only national public university and stresses the importance of rigorous research and testing of knowledge, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence. Professor Brown said student numbers were too low and increasing enrolments was a major goal. She also expected the university to record a deficit in the current financial year, though not as large as in previous years.
The strategy launch coincides with ANU’s 80th birthday and the reopening of University House. The building, which opened in 1954 and was badly damaged in a hailstorm more than six years ago, has been restored and is now a hotel, cafe and beer garden. Master of University House Peter Kanowski said repairs cost $120 million, with $110 million coming from insurers.
