Professor Glyn Davis AC delivers 2024 Bradley Oration
Professor Glyn Davis AO delivering the 2024 Bradley Oration at the University of Sydney.
In his Bradley Oration entitled 鈥楳ind the gap: Rhetoric and reality in higher education鈥�, Professor Davis explored the purpose of a university education, doing so through the 鈥減erhaps unexpected lens鈥� of how a university teaches about politics and why it matters to the Australian Public Service. He concluded that 鈥渙ur universities do a difficult job remarkably well鈥�.
The teaching of politics matters to the 鈥渇iercely impartial鈥� Australian Public Service (APS), said Professor Davis, because 鈥渋t works in a context shaped by ideas and, as a necessity, through people.鈥澛犅�
As Australia grows, so too does its public service, with many of its new recruits having studied politics at university.
鈥淪o,鈥� says Professor Davis, 鈥渋t matters in no small measure what they bring from campus to the public service.鈥�
The formation that takes place at university has 鈥渃onsequences for our national future.鈥� And 鈥渋n my experience鈥� he said, 鈥渦niversity leaders care deeply about this civic obligation.鈥澛�
A tertiary education should be a valuable way to develop the deep analytical and problem鈥憇olving skills on which current and future public administration depends.
Now in its third year, the Bradley Oration honours the late Professor Denise Bradley AC, a graduate of the University of Sydney and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Australia, for her significant contribution to higher education.
Described by Professor Davis in his oration as 鈥渁 passionate advocate for the transformative power of education鈥�, Professor Bradley led the 2008 (Bradley) Review of Australian Higher Education, which sparked vital reform for the sector.
Professor Davis shared Professor Bradley鈥檚 declaration that 鈥渨e want [graduates] to be more than personal survivors ... [we want them to be able] to reshape this changing world.鈥�
Beyond 鈥渕astery of the subject鈥�, the ability to think critically about the world and to understand ethical responsibilities as professionals and citizens, are 鈥渇rom the selfish perspective of the public service鈥� the attributes we need in graduates, Professor Davis said.
His oration touched on culture wars and his time as a 鈥渇resh new academic at Griffith University.鈥� He conceded that some see universities as places of 鈥渋ndoctrination鈥� and related his encounters when he looked into the teaching of politics at this university.聽聽
Throughout, he shared important lessons and observations such as defining 鈥渢he skill of critical thinking鈥� as 鈥渁n ability to defer forming a view until we apply evidence, consider counter-arguments, and seek further information to test our assumptions and inherent biases.鈥� This is an 鈥渁n essential attribute for public servants offering policy advice.鈥�
As for critics and their 鈥渄ramatic pronouncements鈥� about what鈥檚 being taught in universities, Professor Davis quoted a student studying the Introduction to Australian Politics course at the University of Sydney: 鈥淯niversity has taught me to think about who鈥檚 saying what and why, as opposed to just taking in everything in as it comes.鈥�
Professor Davis said it鈥檚 鈥渋nspiring鈥� to hear new recruits to the department he leads 鈥渆xpress their aspirations for Australia.鈥�
鈥淟ike generations before them,鈥� he said, 鈥渢hese young people intend to dedicate their careers to serving the public.鈥�
It gives him faith in Australia鈥檚 liberal democracy. And allows him to conclude that 鈥渙ur universities do a difficult job remarkably well 鈥� endowing future citizens, future politicians, future public servants with the skills, knowledge and qualities to give them, and us, confidence in the future.鈥�
The Bradley Oration is given in the University of Sydney鈥檚 historic and atmospheric Great Hall on the traditional land of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. This year鈥檚 audience included the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors and other higher education leaders from across Australia.
Among the special guests was Dr James Bradley, Professor Bradley鈥檚 son, who spoke on behalf of the Bradley family. The University of Sydney鈥檚 Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO, provided the vote of thanks.
The inaugural Oration was given in 2022 by the Federal Minister for Education, Hon. Jason Clare MP, who unveiled the membership and terms of reference for the Australian Universities Accord. And last year鈥檚 address was given by the University of Adelaide鈥檚 Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter H酶j AC, who warned that widening economic inequality could diminish the quality of our democracy.
