Professor The Hon. Bill Shorten | University of Canberra

In this episode of the Broken Education Podcast, host Joel Di Trapani, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Vygo, sits down with The Hon. Bill Shorten, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra, to explore the future of higher education and how universities can better unlock opportunity for all students.Drawing on his background in federal politics and public service, Bill shares the personal experiences that shaped his belief in education as a powerful vehicle for social mobility. Together, Joel and Bill discuss the barriers that still exist in higher education from over-reliance on ATAR scores to limited pathways for adult learners and why universities must evolve to become more flexible, inclusive, and focused on real student outcomes.They also dive into the role universities play in strengthening national innovation, the need for more agile learning pathways, and why supporting equity students ultimately benefits society as a whole.At its core, this conversation asks an important question: how can universities better serve the communities they exist to support?