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Sydney University vice chancellor Mark Scott . Photo : Supplied
I wouldn ’ t be approaching this job unless I was a real optimist .
Scott enters the ‘ sandstone snake pit ’
Sydney University ’ s latest VC begins his tenure .
By Wade Zaglas
Former ABC managing director and NSW education secretary Mark Scott has encountered a wave of criticism since being appointed the University of Sydney ’ s latest vice-chancellor .
But , according to a recent article in the Australian Financial Review , he remains aloof to any “ snobbish disdain ” he has encountered since the decision was made to make him the boss of what has been called the ‘ sandstone snake pit ’.
While there were many supporters of his appointment – including prominent academics such as Glyn Davis and QUT ’ s vice-chancellor Margaret Sheil – one of the many critics of the decision was academic Nick Reimer , who spearheaded the campaign against a Ramsay Foundation Centre for Western Civilisation being established at Sydney university .
“ This appointment poses a serious credibility problem for the new VC from the outset ,” Reimer told the Sydney Morning Herald back in March .
“ The appointment sends the message that academic work is irrelevant to the most important role at the university .”
But such criticism is unlikely to bother the new vice-chancellor , who says he has “ almost got a specialisation in dealing with highly intelligent , highly articulate , slightly contrary people who are suspicious of management ,” Scott told the AFR .
Sure , Scott “ is not a vice-chancellor from central casting ”. He does not hold a PhD , and his career includes stints as a teacher , journalist and government advisor .
But what excites Scott ’ s supporters is his experience in managing large , complex organisations , evidenced by his time as ABC ’ s managing director and the NSW Education Department secretary .
And while he has not completed a doctorate , the new vice-chancellor is no academic lightweight . He holds both bachelor and masters qualifications in Arts , a diploma of Education , and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University .
“ I don ’ t have a PhD and that ’ s simply because my life path took me in other directions ,” Scott said .
“ My experience is in running large complex public organisations that are full of demanding and complex knowledge workers . That ’ s my area of specialisation and expertise . And this is now the third institution I ’ ve been asked to lead where I was an outsider coming in .”
Putting aside his ‘ unconventional ’ background as a vice-chancellor , Scott says he is more concerned with far more serious challenges as he takes his place at Australia ’ s oldest university .
The new vice-chancellor ’ s task will involve running a university with some 60,000 students , more than 8000 staff and multi billion-dollar turnover – all from his trusty laptop in Roseville as Sydney ’ s lockdown continues .
“ I had planned to immediately spend a lot of time out and about with students and in lecture theatres , and visiting research labs . But that ’ s going to have to be constrained at the first instance ,” he told the AFR .
When Scott ’ s appointment was announced , a tertiary management insider , who requested anonymity , said today ’ s vice-chancellors needed to possess more political and diplomatic panache to deal with Canberra , and not just be prominent academics . “ Universities are on the nose ,” he said . “ Coalition MPs don ’ t like the university sector or the swagger of academic VCs . Labor isn ’ t in love with the uni sector either . There ’ s been decades of , ‘ give me , give me , give me ’, rather than ask what they can do for the country . That ’ s changed , but not enough . He ’ s the right man at the right time .”
In addition to getting to know the university and keeping abreast of international student numbers and border restrictions , a priority for the new VC will be resetting the higher education sector ’ s relationship with Canberra , which has been described as “ frosty ” and even “ downright contemptuous ”.
“ That ’ s a matter that ’ s very much on people ’ s minds . But I wouldn ’ t be approaching this job unless I was a real optimist , that there is a way through for the University of Sydney and the sector as a whole , to have our current achievements recognised , but also they have to have us as an indispensable part of Australian public life ,” Scott said .
Scott sent Sydney University staff an email containing his thoughts on the importance and role of universities in the economy and world of today and tomorrow .
“ I will say that the last 18 months have reinforced the vital importance of universities . This is where the most complex research questions are identified , research challenges met and sold ,” he said .
“ But it ’ s also where you think through issues like strong public policy , clear and effective communication , strong leadership capabilities . These are all things that have come to bear since the virus entered our lives .” ■
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