The trend to take our wonderful government-based research universities in Australia down the Private Enterprise path has ruined the quality of tertiary education because of at least two effects.
Firstly they chase the dollar, so revenue from enrollments for anyone and everyone from anywhere dominates. When I was there we knew we were in the top 4% of the population in IQ. It was accepted that not everyone had an ability to complete advanced education. I love Gough Whitlam, and how he made sure anyone able to complete uni was enabled to go there. That is different from current emphasis on everyone should go there or at least to some diluted version of what it used to be.
Secondly, private enterprise research chases clandestine contracts. Hence the recent news at Melbourne Uni where they have finally agreed to be open about where their arms dealing research projects come from. Forced by the pro-Palestinian protesting students, bless them.
University research almost by definition is meant to be in the public domain. Industrial research in America, which includes defence, has always been in the realm of large well funded R&D departments within their giant companies. and not in universities. Where it belongs I think. Of course private universities are primarily an American invention, so there is that too. But I’d rather see our companies increase their internal R&D to do anything secretive. There could be incentives like tax support. We already do that with tax clawbacks these days.
I think is a great thing so that universities remain pure in their research and we all benefit when say a new medical breakthrough is made or a new subatomic particle is discovered or a new causality is found in economics that leads to better societies or how the materials were shipped to build the pyramids.