Alternate strategies in thinking the university brings together representatives of four different initiatives, The Free University (1970) Night Art School (2008), We Are the University (2011-), and the University Without Conditions (2011-). These initiatives reflect on and often aggressively criticise the university as a neoliberal institution. In various ways they argue for recognition of the position that the university belongs to us, those who teach, learn, research, council, clean, and create community.

ST PAUL St Gallery has invited Mike Hanne, Rebecca Steedman and Jai Bentley-Payne to join with Melissa Laing in discussing how we might re consider education through the practices of activism and the creation of alternatives.

The Free University ran regular day long discussions out of the St Pauls Church Crypt in 1970.

The Night Art School was an evening art school run out of a local hall. The N.A.S. curriculum was created by a community of artists and designers and sought to promote an exchange of ideas and learning that is interesting, useful and relevant.

We Are The University, holds its kaupapa it its name. It is a community of students and staff who are committed to the University as a site of intellectual expansion and academic freedom. We believe the University should function as the ‘critic and conscience of society’ and as an open space for expression of dissent.

The University Without Conditions is a free university and self-organising collective, that holds lectures, seminars, exhibitions and workshops at a variety of locations. It seeks to be open to everybody, fearless and critical without restriction as described by Derrida, in the essay from which it draws it's name: the University Without Conditions.