A good view doesn’t make for a world class university
Calling for expat kiwis to put money into the tertiary sector is possibly a good thing but telling them to invest in a showcase private university is misguided.
Kiwi expat Michael Parker is doing just that in a newly released book The Pine Tree Paradox: why creating the New Zealand we all dream of requires a great university.
Parker argues that New Zealand needs a world-class university on Auckland’s waterfront. What he fails to recognise is that we have those already.
What Parker also ignores in his plea for a private university in New Zealand is that 15 of the top 20 universities in the world (as ranked by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings) are in the United States, 3 are in the United Kingdom, and 1 is in Switzerland.
These institutions are hundreds of years old and are located (for the most part) in the place where the bulk of publishing is carried out for academia – the United States. This contributes to their positions in the world rankings. As far as I know there is not an academic printing press nestled in among Kermadec restaurant and Portside Brasserie on the Auckland Waterfront.
What is more, countries like the United States put more money into their exisiting tertiary institutions, which can only help the world rankings. For example, in 2005 the United States spent 2.9 per cent of GDP on universities and other tertiary institutions, where New Zealand spent only 1.5 per cent of GDP on this level of education.
And the United States put US$24,370 into each student’s education in 2005, while we contributed as a national only $10,262 towards each student’s education according to the OECD.
Pouring millions of dollars into a flashy building on the waterfront of Auckland will not increase the quality of tertiary education research, innovation, and learning in New Zealand.
Under investment in tertiary education as a nation will never help us reach our dreams either. It is time we invested properly in the eight universities in New Zealand and the dozens of polytechnics we already have because these already contain world-class academics and students who make their mark both here in New Zealand and overseas.
"Parker argues that New Zealand needs a world-class university on Auckland’s waterfront. What he fails to recognise is that we have those already."
Really?
The University of Auckland is currently ranked 145th in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The rest of NZ's universities are a very long way behind and continue to drop each year. That's the reality.
However, I agree with your comments re per-capita investment in education and, unfortunately, it's highly unlikely anything will change there. Another sad reality.
So lets be honest with ourselves and accept our mediocrity. It's far easier than supporting the vision and ambition of someone like Michael Parker.
haven't read Parker's book. It sounds as if his premises are , in broad terms, those of establishing and maintaining international reputation to ensure a competitive advantage.
I just looked at the THS criteria, as described on their website, and I wonder if they share the same premises?
After all, the logic of reputation and competitiveness means that you have to survey your institution constantly and dispose of those aspects that do not appear to contribute to these goals. But what's your time-scale for that constant process? Does it even allow you to apply a time scale?
Maybe TEU should try to get the man to engage in public debate…even in person next time he's around?
The title of Parkers book says it all really. NZ needs to develop more sustainable economic drivers. Pine trees and kiwi fruit milk powder and apples just don't cut it any more our environment cannot sustain the demand. Intellect is an infinite resource. We have a world class natural environment to attract international intellects mix these with the best of our own create a world class facility that stands out, is iconic and focus on building an international reputation in research and innovation. Our current universities and polytechnics have become so community focused it would take years to brand a single world class elite university out of the higher Ed system we currently have. The international education sector earned over 7 Billion dollars in revenue last year we should look more closely at what this industry could offer our economy as a whole in reference to what Michael is suggesting in his book The Pine Tree Paradox
Sandra,
Based on your article it doesn't sound like you've read Michael Parker's book. If not, you ought to. It's a good read.
There's also a video interview with him here – http://www.interest.co.nz/news/54980/nz-needs-cre…