<p>In this episode of the Broken Education Podcast, Joel Di Trapani sits down with Professor Zlatko Skrbiš, Vice-Chancellor and President of Australian Catholic University (ACU), for a thoughtful conversation about the role of universities in shaping ethical futures, flourishing lives, and thriving communities.<br /></p><p>Drawing from his own journey as an international PhD student who came to Australia through a Commonwealth scholarship, Professor Skrbiš reflects on the transformative power of education and why universities must continue fighting for their social purpose in an increasingly skeptical world. <br /><br />The conversation explores ACU’s Vision 2033 strategy, the growing devaluation of higher education in public discourse, the importance of mission-led institutions, and why universities must help shape not simply react to the future of AI and knowledge creation.<br /></p><p>At the heart of the episode is a powerful belief that education remains one of society’s most important forces for trust, progress, and human flourishing and that universities must continue defending that role with clarity, courage, and purpose.</p>