The Idea of the University - Crisis or Adaptation?

Disruption is all around us. We are experiencing profound upheaval that is transforming our economies, our societies and our values. For centuries, universities have advanced change in the public interest. Can they remain relevant in an era of fake news, anti-politics, and rising contempt for real expertise?

What are the challenges facing students, academics, and the higher education sector today? What will the university of the future look like? Should engaging and inspiring the wider community be core business for universities?

This event explores the role and responsibilities of universities in these urgent times. It matters not just to scholars, administrators and students - but to everyone concerned about adaptation and change in the 21st century.

The event will be a moderated conversation between leading Australian thinkers across sectors and disciplines and will anchor refreshed internal dialogue at ANU during the year in which its world-leading law school turns 60.

An initiative of the ANU College of Law and the ANU Centre for Law, Arts & the Humanities, the dialogue will be curated and facilitated by Natasha Cica of Kapacity.org. The event will be recorded for broadcast on ABC RN's Big Ideas, and will be followed by book signings with the speakers.

This event is now free and open to the public.