• Steven Schwartz
• Big Ideas, ABC Radio National

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14 September 2009From its earliest classical origins, education's real purpose was to build 'character' so graduates could take up their role in their society and contribute to the good of everyone. But is that still the case or have financial imperatives had their way?

After all, this year´s budget papers did say that universities are here to grow the knowledge-based economy, that they are key contributors to economic progress. Commercial transactions have their own ethical imperatives and these are not always consistent, or the same, as traditional academic values... This lecture is from Macquarie University, it is the Vice-Chancellor's Inaugural Annual Lecture and it was delivered last week by the vice-chancellor himself, Professor Steven Schwartz.