When
Wed 4-Mar 01:30 PM - 05:00 PM
Panel
Knowing
Connected Communities
Celebrate the ANU McCusker Institute - join us for the Official Launch.
The conversation we are holding is "What Are Universities For?".
Come to as many parts that you can:
- 1:30-2:45 at John Yencken - Informal Discussion on "What Are Universities For?" with Selena Griffith, CEO of Enactus
- 2:45-3:00 - we'll walk to the Shine Dome
- 3:00-4:00 at Shine Dome - students are invited to have afternoon tea with Malcolm and Tonya McCusker, and other invited guests from the community sector
- 4:00-5:00 at Shine Dame - Launch event with speaker Satara Uthayakumaran - ANU student & Australian United Nations Youth Representative 2025
See the event page for more information about the Launch. https://mccuskerinstitute.anu.edu.au/event/260304-shaping-hopeful-futures/
The preparation and completion task for this activity is the "What Are Universities For?" KNoT. Please see the information there.
About this KNoT
This inquiry challenges us to consider what universities uniquely offer to the broader community: not just knowledge transfer, but the development of critical thinking, intellectual citizenship, and the capacity to engage with difficult questions that matter. It's an invitation to reflect on our own role as learners and contributors to society.
Preparation
Please take approximately 10 sections from the Boulton and Lucas' reading. Explore some of the headings you might be curious about.
What You’ll Learn
This will be an exploration of the idea of a university.
Learning Resources
- Boulton and Lucas, 2008, "What are Universities For?" https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225511003_What_Are_Universities_For
- A Big Ideas podcast moderated by Prof Des Manderson: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/bigideas/the-purpose-and-the-future-of-the-university/12095864
- Universities Accord: https://www.education.gov.au/australian-universities-accord/resources/final-report
How to Complete This KNoT
Consider the pre-panel activity (what did you think Universities are for?), the reading, and the panel discussion. What has shaped your view of a university? Has this view changed over time? What elements of universities do you think will persist into the future? Reflect (150-200 words) on a question that you asked, or would have asked if you had time.