Dear Colleague,
Following the AAUP’s submissions to several parliamentary inquiries into a university sector that is currently in an existential academic crisis, we would now like to progress our agenda for urgent structural reform.
We cordially invite you to attend the AAUP National University Governance Conference (Part 1) (please see attached conference program).
Australian higher education is confronting a dangerous shift away from collegial, peer-accountable governance toward a profit-driven corporate model. This transformation has led to the erosion of academic freedom, reckless restructuring that drains national capital, the systematic silencing of whistleblowers, and the uncritical adoption of AI tools without scholarly oversight. To protect our nation’s intellectual future, we must transition to a participatory democratic university model where elected academics lead policy, curriculum development, research standards, and ethical decision-making.
Join us for a focused conversation via Zoom on Friday, 31 July 2026, from 9:30am to 1:30pm. The draft program features expert insights and urgent calls to action, including:
- A presentation of the AAUP position and proposed solutions to restore academic integrity by President Rylee Dionigi
- Why these reforms matter to all of society and the pressing need for a Royal Commission, led by Treasurer Gabriel Donleavy
- Foundational principles and critical challenges regarding AI in higher education with Secretary John Kenny
- An urgent session on reforming whistleblowing legislation and protecting truth-tellers from retaliation, featuring two times Australian whistleblower Kim Sawyer and Vice President Manuel Graeber
- The case for establishing an Independent Academic Ombudsman presented by Council Member Shumi Akhtar
The session will conclude with an open discussion among all speakers and the audience to define next steps and actionable outputs.
Your voice is essential to this movement. Please register by replying directly to this email by 29 July to aaup_council@professoriate.org .
We look forward to welcoming you to this vital conversation.
Sincerely,
The AAUP Council
www.professoriate.org