Abstract
At a time when the OECD (2007) is advocating more local engagement for higher education institutions, this study looks at a number of community initiatives in Australia where local universities have played a key role. All were studied as part of the PASCAL Universities and Regional Engagement (PURE) project, which involves a total of 19 regions worldwide. Drawing on case studies and some of the literature related to the regional engagement of the tertiary sector, this article identifies ways in which it could be made more effective. However, universities, as other bodies, are increasingly part of a global sector in which reputation and funding are becoming ever more competitive. Within a region, there is rarely an overall strategic vision for encouraging cooperative projects. The challenge is to address find better ways of reconciling the potential contribution which can be made through regional collaboration with the need to maintain institutional financial viability and academic quality in a global market.
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