There’s a ‘third space’ in Australia’s higher education sector

Higher education is an ever-evolving industry, but some academics and leaders who work on the frontline of its evolution often go unnoticed.

These leaders and their work exist in the third space of higher education, producing exciting new knowledge.

So, what is this third space, this ‘no man’s land’?

The third space is not necessarily a real place you can visit. It can be anywhere, and it can also be nowhere.

It’s mostly a metaphor. It could be imagined as a blurry intersection between professional and academic staff, where roles and professional identities overlap.

The third space is where important work happens, often not because of formal rules or structures, but despite them. It’s a space where creativity and collaboration thrive outside traditional boundaries.

The term is used by university staff to describe roles where they balance conflicting academic, professional and research goals, along with their other pursuits and achievements.