The civic role of the university and how it’s changing

Universities are already well known for playing a role in society that goes beyond education. They are places of discourse and exchange, innovation and exploration, and meeting grounds for new ideas and collaborations. As we move beyond the pandemic crisis, social and economic recovery is now paramount.

RMIT holds a unique position as one of Australia’s largest and oldest universities, along with an international footprint and strong Asia Pacific influence. More than twenty years in Vietnam as Australia’s most significant investment in country also provides a deep perspective on the wider region and a strong sense of community contribution.

Looking ahead to a time of ongoing complexity, universities must examine their civic contribution and consider how they:

– Create effective partnerships with industry, governments and cities to generate positive impact.

– Contribute to community ecosystems through which economic, social and environmental outcomes are generated, including First Nations communities.

– Ensure research and innovation activity makes an impact beyond academia.

– Prepare students for a career journey that will be entirely different from the experience of their parents.

– Use technology and expertise to educate for an environment of rapidly changing workforce demand.

Professor Alec Cameron will share his views on this shifting civic role and engage in discussion relating to the opportunities and responsibilities ahead.

As well as being a graduate of the University of Sydney in Science and Electrical Engineering, he is also a Rhodes Scholar with a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford in Robotics.

Alec has worked widely across the education sector, at the Universities of New South Wales and Western Australia, the corporate world and mostly recently five years in the UK as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at Aston University, prior to taking up his role as Vice-Chancellor and President at RMIT in January, 2022.