March 4, 2026
Professor Sean Brawley FRSN is one of a number of our Fellows who regularly contribute to the debate on the future of Australia’s higher education system.
In his latest contribution, published in the newsletter Future Campus, Sean Brawley is exploring the theme ‘What are universities for — and who gets to decide?’ In a multi-part series that provides forensic context for the establishment of the proposed Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) and expanded Federal Government regulation. In essence, Brawley contends that governance cannot be disentangled from purpose, and purpose cannot be understood without history.
Thus far, five parts in this series have now been published, including:
- What do we mean by University Governance? — that explores confusion about governance is a confusion about purpose
- Self-Rule, Scholarship and the State: Foundations of Australian University Governance
- Before the Revolution — Sector Governance and the Limits of Arm’s-Length Control
- The Dawkins Revolution — From Coordination to Control
- The Howard Settlement: The Maturation of Commonwealth Control
which are certainly an erudite and informative read that provides a potted history of Australian university governance.
Sean Brawley is a Professor of History and a leader in higher education. Previously, he was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategy and Assurance) from 2022–2024 at the University of Wollongong and, before that, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Programs and Pathways) at Macquarie University from 2017–2022.
