7/28/2019 Governing Perceptions: Anthony Potts' research investigates how politicians view higher education

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Governing Perceptions

Anthony Potts' research investigates how politicians view higher education.

Being an election year, and in the wake of theGonskiReview, education will be hot on the political agendaduring 2013. Higher education will very likely enter thedebate also. A major focus of the Government hasbeen, after all, to have forty percent of 25-34 year oldsattain at least a bachelors degree, ultimately revealingthe perception that higher education is an invaluablesocial and economic good. Given such a view, onemust ask why do these politicians view highereducation in such a way? Indeed, more generally, whatexactly are politicians' attitudes towards higher

education?

Dr Anthony Potts, Senior Lecturer at theSchool of EducationatThe University of Adelaide, seeksto answer such questions.

Surprisingly, understanding the attitude's of those that debate/enact policies and allocate fundingfor higher education is only now an emerging field in Australia, but with a longer history in Europeand internationally. As a contributor to this research, Potts has studied the perceptions ofpoliticians in the UK, the US and Australia, asking questions such as 'what do politicians actuallywant from universities?, 'what role do politicians believe universities should have?, and 'whatinfluences or governs these perceptions?'. Understanding these attitudes can potentially give us

an insight into what our leaders believe and why they behave the way they do concerning highereducation.

There are a range of views and factors that affect such perceptions. Interestingly, having childrenenrolled in higher educational programs is a major factor, with their experiences taken to reflectthe state of their institution and possibly even the system as a whole, the personal experiences ofpoliticians is another. Constituents attitudes towards students can also govern perceptions of localrepresentatives, either positively (e.g. due to increased student populations bolstering economicactivity) or negatively (e.g. due to student accommodation pushing up rent values).

Perhaps unbelievable to some cynical academics, Potts characterises many of the politicians he

has interviewed as very sophisticated and intelligent people. He has come across politicians whomhave a very clear idea of what it is they want from higher education. For instance, there is theexample of a Latino-American politician from Arizona who wants to solve immigration issuesthrough higher education; another politician from Arizona wanted to create a technology hub akinto Silicon Valley. In the UK, he finds that there is a very strong perception shared amongstpoliticians that education is the primary driving force behind social mobility.

Despite this diversity, Potts finds that the consensus seems to be that a sense of utility isparamount to the politicians interviewed academic and critical faculties are still encouraged, butstructural strength and economic growth (and the employability of graduates) is taken to be vital.

This is perhaps good news for impending graduates!

Provided that education is such an integral aspect of our social and political lives, it is baffling thatresearch into the perceptions of politicians towards it is only now an emerging field. Through it wecan begin to understand why politicians think and act like they do in regards to higher education.

http://www.betterschools.gov.au/reviewhttp://www.betterschools.gov.au/reviewhttp://www.betterschools.gov.au/reviewhttp://www.betterschools.gov.au/reviewhttp://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/anthony.pottshttp://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/anthony.pottshttp://education.adelaide.edu.au/http://education.adelaide.edu.au/http://education.adelaide.edu.au/http://www.adelaide.edu.au/http://www.adelaide.edu.au/http://www.adelaide.edu.au/http://www.adelaide.edu.au/http://education.adelaide.edu.au/http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/anthony.pottshttp://www.betterschools.gov.au/reviewhttp://www.betterschools.gov.au/review

7/28/2019 Governing Perceptions: Anthony Potts' research investigates how politicians view higher education

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Particularly in Australia, it offers the potential for us to gain an understanding of Government policyand why it wants so many of us to have parchments we can hang over our mantle pieces.

This article provides an overview ofresearch into politicians attitudes to higher education andthe impact of universities on their formation. For further information on Anthony Potts and theSchool of Education,please visitThe University of Adelaide.

http://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/anthony.pottshttp://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/anthony.pottshttp://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/anthony.pottshttp://www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/anthony.potts