The papers in this collection deal with the concept of "privatization" in higher education in both the traditional sense of student finance and in relation to recent usage involving non-government funding of research, provision of full-fee places alongside free places in public institutions, the founding of a private sector in addition to the public, and the marketing of academic services to foreign students. The conference was organized by the Centre for Administrative and Higher Education Studies of the University of New England and the University of Melbourne's Centre for the Study of Higher Education. The following papers are presented: (1) "Private Initiatives in Higher Education" (Peter Karmel); (2) "Address on Policy" (Susan Ryan); (3) "Address on Policy" (Peter Shack); (4) "The Private Potential of Australian Higher Education" (Donald W. Watts); (5) "New Australian Policy Initiatives for Overseas Students: The IDP Experience" (Ken Back); (6) "Biscuits, Bicycles, and B.Sc's" (Roger Scott); (7) "Initial Plans for an Internationally Significant Private University" (A. John T. Ford and Donald W. Watts); (8) "The Hybrid Approach" (Rod Treyvaud); (9) "The Australian Predicament in Comparative Perspective" (Roger L. Geiger); and (10) "Concluding Summary: Emerging Themes in the Discussion of Private Initiatives in Higher Education in Australia" (David Beswick). (KM)