The recent EDUCAUSE report — “2026 EDUCAUSE Top 10: Making Connections” — identifies ten pressing technology, data and organisational issues for higher education institutions around the world. (EDUCAUSE Review) While many of these issues focus on technology and data, a clear theme is emerging: institutions must build connections — across people, functions, data systems, and […]
READ MOREIn a time when every university is being asked to do more with less, sector benchmarking has never been more important. Yet, benchmarking isn’t just about lining up numbers — it’s about asking the right questions to turn data into action. At Pilbara Group, we’ve spent years helping universities build Activity-Based Cost models that connect […]
READ MOREI was chatting with Gary Cokins on LinkedIn last week about using Activity-Based Costing (ABC) for university financial management and I mentioned that by using traditional financial accounting methods a lot of costs could be missed, specifically cross-subsidization and overhead. Cross-subsidization occurs where the costs of teaching subjects are covered by other schools, think elective […]
READ MOREFollowing on from our post on ‘why’ institutions should be delving into Academic Program Financial Management, and the previous tips on data requirements, project staffing, and model business rules and assumptions, this week’s tip looks at managing expectations relating to timelines. Tip 4 – Timeline (time to build, time to update) Let’s be honest – […]
READ MOREFollowing on from our post on ‘why’ institutions should be delving into Academic Program Financial Management, and the previous tips on data requirements and project staffing, this week’s tip provides advice on Model Business Rules and Assumptions. Tip 3 – Model Business Rules and Assumptions (a list of some of most essential ones) Firstly, the […]
READ MOREFollowing on from our post on ‘why’ institutions should be delving into Academic Program Financial Management, and last week’s post on data requirements, this week’s tip provides advice on the level of project support needed to support these models. Tip 2 – Project Staffing (who is needed and why) These types of models often require […]
READ MOREFollowing on from last week’s blog post on ‘why’ institutions should be delving into Academic Program Financial Management, this post provides advice on the types of data needed to support these models. Tip 1 – Data Data extracts are required from multiple siloed systems. These include Financial Management, HR/Payroll, Student Management Systems, Timetabling and sometimes […]
READ MORECan you estimate the cost of new Programs that your institution is considering adding to your curriculum? New Subjects? What is the cost difference to teach different student types (domestic, international, in-state etc.) in each Program? Or Subject? What is the magic ‘breakeven’ student number for each Program? Subject? And how does this change when […]
READ MOREBenchmarking has long been one of the most valuable tools for higher education leaders. By comparing operational and academic performance against peers, institutions can identify strengths, uncover efficiency gaps, and plan for the future with greater confidence. But traditional benchmarking has its limitations. Annual reports are often delivered as static PDFs or spreadsheets, with access […]
READ MOREWhy Understanding the Cost of Teaching Matters More Than Ever Australian universities operate in an environment of constrained public funding, growing demand for diverse delivery modes, and pressure to maintain educational quality. Understanding the cost of teaching is crucial for academic leaders navigating these pressures to ensure sustainable and mission-aligned resource allocation. Collaborative research by […]
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