Civic Leaders and the University: State and Municipal Politicians’ Perspectives on Higher Education in Australia

Universities do not simply arise from nowhere. Throughout history civic leaders have supported the establishment and growth of universities for a variety of social, political, economic and other strategic reasons. This is a study of a group of contemporary Australian civic leaders and their role in the establishment and growth of their local university. The book firstly details the historical and contemporary record that civic leaders have played in the foundation and growth of universities. It then examines the perspectives of a group of regional politicians from Australia concerning their local universities, specifically the University of Ballarat and La Trobe University, Bendigo. The discussion is framed in terms of notions of the self, identity and leadership in the network and informational society.