UNE Business School Seminar with A/Prof Michael Kortt (SCU)

The UNE Business School (UNEBS) R&RT Committee cordially invites you to the Seminar of Associate Professor Michael Kortt (Southern Cross University and UNEBS).

The session will be held next Friday 5th July at 11:00 AM in W40 LT2 and through Zoom (Password: 230699)

Light food will be offered.

Abstract

The study of economics has long been a part of Australian tertiary education from its early beginnings. In this seminar, we will discuss about the current units of study in every Australian public university that provides undergraduate tertiary education in economics. Specifically, this study offers a detailed analysis of what economics education is currently being taught and the types of university entities that are providing this education. In addition, this research looks at the kinds of public value propositions that public universities are advancing in terms of the merit of learning about economics. Preliminary analysis suggests that while the study of economics might appear relatively strong on the surface, it shows that the discipline is in danger of losing its identity, with offerings often being spread across various university entities that do not count economics as their course disciplinary offerings. In particular, the study shows that economics education in Australia continues to be in a relatively parlous state, with economics education being regarded as more of an adjunct or afterthought than an integral discipline area in most universities.

Michael Kortt is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts at Southern Cross University. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of New England, an MS in public health from the University of Arizona and an honours degree in economics from La Trobe University. In addition, Michael is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the UNE Business School, University of New England. Before joining SCU in 2011, Michael spent 10 years working in the government sector as a Director of Research for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Department of Social Security, and the Department of Health. He has published over 110 scholarly outputs, which include over 90 refereed journal articles, book chapters, and two research books. As an applied economist, he has published widely on various topics, including health economics, life satisfaction, public policy and regional economics.