Time to call an end to the University spin wars?

nospam@example.com (Jill Murray) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:03:08 +1100

The University of Melbourne's obscene publicity spend bore fruit again this week, with a multi-page, colour insert in 'Education Age' (13 October 2008) spruiking its wares. This followed Monash University's high profile 'Passport' advertising campaign last week, and our own University's more modest re-badging with the slogan 'Infinite Possibilities'. Isn't it time for the higher education 'spin wars' to stop?

For one thing, whose money is being thrown away in these window-dressing exercises? Australian Universities are not private institutions, and the bulk of their funding over the years has come from the government, which in turn got the money from tax payers and fee-paying students. While all Universities are trying to boost their alumni donations in an effort to emulate the bank balances of the Ivy League American schools, there is no doubt that at least some of the money we see encouraging us to 'Dream Large' is, well, ours.

At a time when Universities are reducing staff, and crumbling infrastructure and over-crowded classrooms make delivering quality outcomes difficult, why are we wasting public funds in this way? What value is really being added to higher education by these profligate campaigns?
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La Trobe Law Forum - Higher education

Time to call an end to the University spin wars?