Leading voices in higher education are urging the creation of an international commission dedicated to examining and strengthening the sector’s social licence—the informal yet essential public permission for universities and colleges to operate and thrive. This call comes at a time when confidence in higher education has declined sharply in many countries, prompting urgent discussions about how institutions can reconnect with the communities they serve.

Understanding the Erosion of Public Confidence

Public trust in universities and colleges has faced significant pressure over the past decade. Surveys indicate that confidence levels dropped to historic lows before showing modest recovery. In the United States, for example, the share of Americans expressing a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in higher education stood at 42 percent in 2025, up from 36 percent the previous year but still well below the 57 percent recorded in 2015. Similar patterns of skepticism appear in the United Kingdom and Australia, where concerns about costs, value for money, and institutional priorities have fueled debate.

These trends reflect broader questions about whether higher education institutions are delivering on their promises to students, taxpayers, and society at large. Rising tuition, questions around graduate outcomes, and perceptions that universities have become disconnected from everyday concerns have contributed to the challenge. Institutions must now demonstrate accountability and relevance in concrete ways.

Defining Social Licence for Higher Education

Social licence refers to the ongoing acceptance and approval granted by the public and stakeholders for an organization’s activities. Originally prominent in industries such as mining and infrastructure, the concept has gained traction in higher education as universities grapple with their role in society. It encompasses credibility, trust, accountability, and legitimacy—pillars that require active cultivation rather than assumption.

For universities and colleges, maintaining this licence means aligning operations with public expectations around affordability, accessibility, research impact, and community engagement. Without it, institutions risk regulatory restrictions, reduced funding support, and declining enrollment from domestic students.

National Initiatives Highlighting the Need for Broader Action

Several countries have already launched targeted efforts to address trust issues. In the United Kingdom, the UPP Foundation established the Civic University Commission nearly a decade ago to explore how universities could strengthen connections with their local places and stakeholders. The resulting framework encouraged institutions to develop civic university agreements focused on mutual benefit and community priorities.

Australia has seen parallel developments through Deakin University’s 2025 white paper on the social licence challenge. The document calls for embedding social licence considerations into institutional compacts with the newly formed Australian Tertiary Education Commission, emphasizing transparency, integrity, and a renewed focus on teaching alongside research.

In the United States, the American Association of Colleges and Universities launched its Advancing Public Trust in Higher Education initiative in 2025. This effort brings together college leaders, business representatives, and civil society to develop practical strategies for rebuilding relationships with students, families, employers, and communities. Yale University’s Committee on Trust in Higher Education released its own report in April 2026, outlining recommendations for greater transparency and responsiveness.

The Case for an International Commission

While national initiatives provide valuable starting points, the interconnected nature of global higher education suggests the value of coordinated international analysis. Prominent academics Glyn Davis, interim vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne, and Anton Muscatelli, distinguished honorary professor at the University of Glasgow, recently argued in Times Higher Education that an international commission could offer comparative insights into what sustains public support for international education and higher education more broadly.

Such a body would examine trends across major destination countries—including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States—as well as emerging players. It could analyze how policy choices in one nation affect student flows and public sentiment elsewhere, providing data-driven recommendations that individual countries cannot generate alone.

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Pressures from International Student Mobility

International education has long been a cornerstone of many university systems, contributing substantial economic benefits and cultural exchange. The United Kingdom and Australia alone host hundreds of thousands of international students, with figures around 750,000 and 850,000 respectively in recent years. Yet rapid growth has raised concerns about housing pressures, impacts on local services, and the balance between international recruitment and support for domestic students.

Shifts in visa policies and public attitudes toward migration have introduced volatility. An international commission could help identify strategies that maintain the benefits of global mobility while addressing legitimate community concerns, potentially giving participating nations a competitive edge in attracting students who value stable, trusted systems.

Transnational Education and Emerging Models

Another evolving area involves transnational education, where universities establish campuses or partnerships abroad. This approach is sometimes positioned as a way to ease domestic pressures while expanding access. However, understanding how these models are perceived in both sending and receiving countries requires cross-border perspectives that a single-nation inquiry cannot fully capture.

Comparative research could clarify student preferences, quality assurance challenges, and the long-term effects on institutional reputations and social licence in multiple contexts.

Stakeholder Perspectives and Potential Benefits

University leaders, policymakers, students, employers, and community members all hold stakes in restoring trust. Faculty and staff often emphasize academic freedom and research integrity, while students and families focus on affordability and career outcomes. Employers seek graduates with relevant skills, and local communities value economic contributions without undue strain on resources.

An international commission could synthesize these viewpoints through public consultations, data analysis, and expert panels. Expected outcomes include clearer benchmarks for institutional performance, shared best practices for community engagement, and evidence-based policy options that respect national differences while highlighting universal principles.

Challenges and Realistic Pathways Forward

Establishing such a commission would require careful governance to ensure independence and broad representation. Funding, data access, and political sensitivities around migration and education policy present hurdles. Yet precedents like the OECD’s work on international students demonstrate that collaborative analysis is feasible.

Participants could draw on existing surveys of public opinion, enrollment data, and economic impact studies. Recommendations might focus on transparent reporting of outcomes, strengthened civic partnerships, and proactive communication about the public value of higher education.

Implications for Universities and Future Outlook

Institutions that proactively address social licence concerns stand to gain resilience against funding fluctuations and regulatory changes. Those that demonstrate accountability and community alignment may attract stronger domestic support and maintain appeal in the international student market.

Looking ahead, higher education systems worldwide face continued evolution in student demographics, technological change, and societal expectations. Coordinated international efforts could help the sector navigate these shifts while reaffirming its role as a public good.

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Practical Steps for Institutions and Policymakers

University leaders can begin by auditing current community engagement activities, publishing clear outcome data, and inviting broader stakeholder input on strategic priorities. Policymakers might support pilot projects that test new compact models linking funding to demonstrated social licence metrics.

Resources such as career guidance platforms and job boards tailored to higher education professionals can assist institutions in building the internal capacity needed for these efforts. Collaborative networks among universities offer additional avenues for sharing effective approaches.