Pilbara Insights: The Podcast Pilbara Group

In this episode of Pilbara Insights we’ll discuss the results of a recent joint analysis project undertaken with the Melbourne Center for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne, specifically looking at what factors influence the cost of teaching including field of education, delivery mode, campus location and subject size.

In this episode of Pilbara Insights we’ll take a look at course or unit evaluation and what should be considered including things like teaching methods, classroom capacity and relationship to the degree. We’ll also discuss the Program Forecasting Tool, a tool that provides an instantaneous five year financial forecast for newly proposed programs by utilizing the large amount of detailed data from an underlying Activity-Based Cost model.

In this episode of Pilbara Insights we’ll explore research and research management, what some of the challenges are in managing a university research portfolio, various ways research is funded, in particular subsidization from teaching income and various ways research performance is measured.

In episode three of Pilbara Insights, we’ll explore two main types of budgeting – Incremental budgeting and responsibility centered management. The advantages and disadvantages of each type, their relationship with strategic planning, which type tends to work better in a downturn and the importance of scenario modelling.

In episode two of Pilbara Insights, we explore Program Review and Optimization. How to balance mission with the internal economy for program review to support strategic leadership decisions and uncover how leading higher education institutions use modelling to expose program financial blind spots and optimize programs across the institution.

In our very first episode of Pilbara Insights we will explore the subject of Academic Resource Management. Lea Patterson from Pilbara Group will be chatting to Emeritus Professor William F. Massy about his latest book Resource Management for Colleges and Universities. William Massy is professor emeritus of education and business administration and a former vice president and vice provost at Stanford University.  They will discuss what Academic Resource Management is, how it relates to cost management and why universities need it now, given they have survived for hundreds of years without it.