Higher education is going through a time of great change. Some people have begun to question the role that universities play in today's society. Peter McPhee takes a step back in order to explore three fundamental questions: What is higher education? How should we teach in the 21st century? And why does higher education matter? Professor McPhee draws on his extensive experience in the sector to offer a global perspective on the role of higher education in the world today.

Peter McPhee is an academic and former Provost of the University of Melbourne. He has also published widely on the history of France.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx