Category: Benchmarks

The Margin Squeeze: How Higher Education Institutions Can Identify and Fix Margin Problems Before They Become Critical

The Silent Crisis in Higher Education Finances For most Australian universities, margins have become the silent challenge—slowly eroding year after year, often invisible until the impact becomes undeniable. Teaching margins, once healthy buffers that funded innovation and strategic priorities, are now squeezed thin or negative across many disciplines. Understanding why this happens—and more importantly, what […]

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The Economics of Civil Engineering: Insights from Australian Sector Benchmarks

Understanding the Landscape Civil Engineering stands as one of the foundational disciplines in higher education, yet its financial performance reveals fascinating insights when compared to peer engineering programs and non-engineering fields. Using comprehensive Australian sector benchmarks1 from 2024, we can uncover patterns that transcend borders and offer valuable lessons for universities worldwide. The Cost Efficiency […]

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Governing AI: The Future of Higher Education Financial Management

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how universities manage data, plan resources, and make financial decisions. But as AI adoption accelerates, so too does the need for strong governance, transparency, and trust. In a recent Pilbara Group webinar, industry leaders from Intelligen, Snowflake, and Pilbara Group came together to explore what responsible, governed AI looks like […]

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