Welcoming Universities were pleased to attend the HEDx Conference Disruption Through Connections hosted by UTS, 16-17 June, 2026. In an era of polycrisis, HEDx CEO Martin Betts opened the conference with a powerful provocation to those gathered – to move beyond problem admiration toward tangible, collective action.
From AI to internationalisation, governance, and student expectations, the sector is being reshaped at every level. Yet across sessions, a unifying idea emerged: meaningful transformation will only happen through stronger, more intentional connections – between institutions, with industry, community and government, and most critically, with students themselves.
Andrew Parfitt (Vice Chancellor, UTS) welcomed delegates with a call to broaden connections and pursue social impact collectively, not institution by institution. That idea echoed throughout the program: universities can no longer afford to operate as isolated actors. Whether addressing financial pressures, access, or innovation, the challenges are systemic – and so must be the responses.
This was reinforced in discussions of industry and community partnerships. Initiatives like the 2050 Alliance, focused on delivering the University Accord’s goal to increase tertiary attainment to at least 80% of working-age Australians by 2050, highlighted that partnerships must move beyond transactional arrangements toward long-term, values-aligned relationships built on reciprocity and trust.
A defining theme was the urgency of redesigning higher education around students’ realities. Kylie Readman (Deputy Vice-Chancellor, UTS) noted that students “have no time for the machinery of academia,” while student voice – articulated powerfully by Chloe Ferreira (Student representative, UTS Council) – reminded the audience that students are not just participants, but the sector’s primary stakeholders and its future. Mimi Baron (Communication and Innovation Student, UTS) asserted that currently universities are good at disruption, but have opportunity to improve when it comes to connection – “tutors should know us by name”.
Scott Pulsipher (President, Western Governors University) emphasised that education must produce both “great citizens with great jobs” – a dual mandate that requires institutions to align more closely with employability while maintaining broader human development.
Several discussions challenged long-held assumptions about universities as knowledge gatekeepers. With AI driving a shift from knowledge scarcity to abundance, the role of universities is being fundamentally redefined.
Key tensions emerged:
- If knowledge is widely accessible, what is the unique value of a university?
- Are institutions producing graduates – or merely credentials?
- How do we balance competency-based models with intellectual depth?
Pierpaolo Limone (Rector, Pegaso University) presented a model where teaching and AI are now co-evolving: educators design both curriculum and the systems that deliver it. Professor KC Chua (President, Singapore Institute of Technology) highlighted a future where universities partner with learners across their entire lives, offering continuous upskilling through micro-credentials, active learning, and industry-integrated experiences. According to Chua, academic staff will increasingly act as coaches rather than “sages on the stage.”
Others cautioned against losing the essence of higher education. As Rose Luckin (CEO, Educate Ventures Research) suggested, universities must remain spaces for deep thinking and enlightenment. The rise of AI raises critical challenges around assessment, “cognitive offloading,” and what must remain fundamentally human in the learning process.
At this critical juncture universities need to innovate. In a panel facilitated by Lucy Marshall (Deputy Vice Chancellor, Community and Leadership, University of Sydney) speakers observed organisational culture barriers such as risk aversion, rigid structures, and over-complex governance continue to slow progress. Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich (Founder & President, Newstate University) highlighted how existing systems often prevent cross-sector innovation, while others pointed to the tendency of universities to replicate rather than innovate due to prestige dynamics. Robynne Quiggan AO (Pro Vice Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership and Engagement, UTS) shared how storytelling can be a powerful way to gain trust and understanding of context to create conditions of psychological safety so critical to innovation.
There was a clear message that Australia must rethink how it positions itself globally through both transnational education and onshore international student intake. International students are vital not only economically, but culturally, and visa policy challenges affecting international students risk long-term reputational damage. Weihong Liang (President, International Student Representatives Council) powerfully argued that partnerships reside in infrastructure and current policies dissuade participation.
For Welcoming Universities, with its focus on creating inclusive, connected, and community-oriented institutions, the promise of AI increasing access to knowledge and university education is welcome, however discussions about individualisation of education raised questions echoed by participants contributing via Slido of what then happens to community within universities?
Through its Standard, knowledge brokerage, partnership development and storytelling, Welcoming Universities reinforces that:
- Connection is not abstract – it is built through everyday practices that make people feel they belong
- Internationalisation is not just economic – it is relational, cultural, and reciprocal
- Community engagement is not an “add-on” – it is central to the purpose of higher education
In a moment where global mobility, migration narratives, and social cohesion are under pressure, this work feels especially critical. It also responds directly to the student voice heard at HEDx: the need to create institutions that are accessible, human-centred, and genuinely connected. Through its broader ecosystem including Welcoming Cities, Clubs, and Workplaces – Welcoming Universities is uniquely positioned to foster cross-sector collaboration, extending connection beyond campuses and into the communities, industries, and civic spaces that shape students’ lives and futures.
At our next members only community of practice Wednesday 29 July we will hear from Sarah Bendall, First Assistant Ombudsman, National Student Ombudsman (NSO), and Weihong Liang, President of the International Students Representative Council of Australia about what makes complaints processes transparent, effective and culturally safe in higher education. If your university is not a member and you’re interested to share in the conversation, get in touch!
Trisnasari Fraser is coordinator of Welcoming Universities, a network that aims to build inclusion and belonging in the higher education sector.
Leave a Reply