Why does the public have trust issues when it comes to our universities?

"Betrayed. Undermined. And let down."

This is how students and staff at Australia's universities feel... according to the chair of a senate inquiry examining governance at our higher education institutions.

Meanwhile, new research at one uni - Deakin - found one third of Australians do not trust universities and two in five agree university managers "are more focused on revenue than quality."

All round, it's a pretty dire assessment.

Deakin University's vice chancellor Iain Martin says whether this is perception or reality makes little difference now.