Higher Education Management
Research Interests
• Higher education system development
• University creation
• University governance
• Higher education inclusivity
• Indigenous student learning
Recent Publications
Wise, G., (2019). Go south! The new dynamism of Latin America. No Going Back: Exploring New Horizons in Global Education Part 1, 54-71. Barton Carlyle: Edinburgh, UK. ISBN:978-1-9161069-1-8
When viewed from the perspective of individual students seeking learning experiences overseas, international education is a positive expression of personal freedom and an opportunity for professional advancement. The benefits to students of international education are compound, and have been sweepingly described as changing students’ lives and shaping global careers. From the perspective of enrolling higher education institutions, high fee-paying international students contribute greatly to institutional financial wellbeing in an ever-tightening fiscal environment. The enormous success of these countries in driving the growth of international education has fundamentally shifted the way universities are financed and operated. However, there are many countervailing challenges for international education that have been discussed broadly in scientific literature. This chapter frames these challenges within economic, social and reputational dimensions and discusses them in context with the rise of higher education in emerging economies, particularly Latin America. This chapter draws insight from an interview with Dr Guillaume Long, who is currently an Associate Research Fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS). He has also served as the Ecuadorian Ambassador to the United Nations. Of greatest relevance to international education, Dr Long previously served as a Senior Minister in the Ecuadorian Government. During his term in office, Dr Long led the development of four new emblematic universities.
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Wise, G., Dickinson, C., Tuntiak, K. and Gallegos, M. C. (2018). Inclusive higher education governance: Managing stakeholders, strategy, structure and function. Studies in higher Education, doi:10.1080/03075079.2018.1525698
Indigenous higher education governance is a fundamental element of diversity, equality and inclusivity at universities with significant indigenous student populations or stakeholder communities. Management approaches to establish inclusive governance mechanisms are complex and little guidance exists to support university managers to establish indigenous advisory councils. We document the creation of a university indigenous advisory council incorporating 11 indigenous nationalities. In doing so, we aim to empower indigenous leaders to create positive impact in higher education, contributing to high quality education and research for indigenous students and communities.
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Wise, G. and Carrasco, I. E. (2018). How to build a regional university: A case study that addresses policy settings, academic excellence, innovation system impact and regional relevance. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 40(4): 342-358. doi:10.1080/1360080X.2018.1482104
This case study tests whether a top-down state-driven development model can establish a university on principles of excellence, impact, and relevance. The creation of Ikiam is analysed qualitatively and the results are discussed in context with national and international policy settings for higher education and innovation. This study provides insights for low and middle-income countries to strengthen higher education and innovation systems through university creation. Internationally it provides practical insights for university master planning taskforces to build organizational strength and distinctiveness through excellence, impact and relevance.
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Wise, G. (2016). How Universities Drive Regional Innovation. Canberra, Australia: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.
This report examines how regional universities drive regional innovation. Specifically, it is a practical investigation of world best practices, strategies and structures that underpin successful examples of regional innovation sponsored by regional universities. This study seeks to understand the prerequisite university structures, strategies and processes that are necessary to underpin university driven regional innovation. It also seeks to understand the factors that are inhibiting effectiveness in this area, leading to a road map that can further build the capacity of regional universities to drive regional innovation. This work demonstrates how successful examples of regional innovation driven by regional universities have been achieved. With this understanding it will be possible to design future policies within organizations and nationally, to better enable universities to drive regional innovation. Through organizational policy development individual regional universities can improve the mechanisms they use to create industry impact. Through national level policy development, the successful strategies of individual universities can be scaled up, for dissemination across a broader range of regional universities.
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Current Research
• Financial literacy and competency among university council members of Australian universities.
• Mechanisms for indigenous inclusion in university structures: Governance versus management approaches.
• Consequences of de-novo or reformative approaches to higher education institution growth in developing regions.
• A needs assessment of undergraduate indigenous learners.
• A review of challenges in the area of English for academic purposes experienced by non-native English speaking researchers.
• Needs and support available to non-native English speaking researchers in Latin America.