Universities told to get voters’ attention

Australia’s dominant political parties are in a “race to the bottom” when it comes to funding the higher education sector, which needs to start publicising its importance to society – and the economy, a conference in Sydney has heard. Vicki Thomson, executive director of the Australian Technology Network (ATN) of universities, speaking at the Higher Education Congress last week, told her audience the sector had little political clout, and most of what it possessed came from perceptions about revenue from international students.