24 October 2013 Minister for education Christopher Pyne has directed the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) to “simplify the paperwork and deregulate”. He declared that reducing red tape is a key priority for the government, while acknowledging it is important to keep quality at the centre of Australian higher education. We are committed to working with the higher education sector to reduce the burden of red tape, regulation and reporting so that it can innovatively and efficiently deliver high quality education. In line with the recommendations of the Review of Higher Education Regulation Report, Pyne says key aspects of the government’s actions to decrease … [Read more...]
Universities Australia on the university agenda for the incoming government
08/09/2013 by
8 September 2013 Universities Australia congratulates the new Abbott Government and looks forward to working together on a future agenda for cementing higher education as a critical pillar supporting long-term national prosperity and well-being, as identified in the Coalition’s, Real Solutions. “It is impossible to overstate the transformative power of universities in changing lives, pushing the boundaries of knowledge, driving innovation, solving our gravest national problems and for securing Australia’s place as global influencer,” said Professor Sandra Harding, Chair of peak body, Universities Australia. “Whether as a provider of international education; a generator of new … [Read more...]
Universities welcome report on redtape
06/08/2013 by
6 August 2013 In responding to the release of the Review of Higher Education Regulation by Professors Kwong Lee Dow and Valerie Braithwaite, Chief Executive of Universities Australia, Belinda Robinson commended the authors on the depth and comprehensiveness of their report, commissioned by the Government less than three months ago. The recommendations of the report largely reflect the positions put forward by Universities Australia's submission including the need to clarify TEQSA's application of the regulatory principles of risk, necessity and proportionality, and a light-touch regulatory approach for universities in recognition of their independence and high degree of autonomy. It … [Read more...]
Towards a smarter Australia – UA policy statement
06/08/2013 by
At the now traditional National Press Club address associated with the Universities Australia (UA) annual conference, outgoing chair of UA Glyn Davis observed that, at the last federal election, higher education was an afterthought: Liberals, Labor and the Greens alike issued brief policy statements about higher education just days before the poll, long after the horse race overwhelmed any discussion of ideas. This was desultory and disappointing. We are determined 2013 will be different. In this context, Universities Australia published in February its first comprehensive policy manifesto - A Smarter Australia. The manifesto calls for a “partnership between the university sector and the … [Read more...]
The Scan Early Edition 6 August 2013
06/08/2013 by
# 132 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Report recommends reducing regulatory burden 5 August 2013 | On the cusp of going into caretaker mode, pending the election, the Commonwealth government has released the report of a review examining how red tape can be reduced for universities while also supporting the quality and excellence of Australia's world class university system. Releasing the report, minister for higher education Kim Carr noted that while the report supports the continuing role of the national regulator - the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards … [Read more...]
The Scan Main Edition 1 August 2013
01/08/2013 by
# 131 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Industrial action intensifies Industrial conflict rages across the sector as the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) battles it out with universities over the terms of a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. An application by Monash University to suspend bans on releasing assessment results was effectively thrown out by the Fair Work Commission but a similar application by Swinburne University succeeded. Industrial action is intensifying at James Cook University, ANU and RMIT....[READ MORE]..... BCA plan to deregulate … [Read more...]
Project to map humanities and social sciences
01/08/2013 by
Australian Government | 26 July 2013 The Australian Government has commissioned a new project to map the national research and teaching capacity in the humanities and social sciences (HASS). Announcing the project, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr, and Australia's Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb, said the report will profile the HASS sectors, including trends in student enrolments and infrastructure capacity. In addition to profiling the humanities and social sciences sectors, the project will consider how government, universities and the humanities and social sciences communities might address issues of sustainability and gaps in capability. According to Carr, … [Read more...]
Campus Review 29 July 2013
30/07/2013 by
This is Campus Review's own summary of lead items in its online edition. As Campus Review is a subscription service, you or your organisation need to have a subscription to Campus Review to view the full article. All non subscribers to Campus Review can have access to a free online trial offer provides free online access to the website for 28 days. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Course quality flagged by new minister The new Minister for Higher Education, Kim Carr, has not clarified whether he will reintroduce university enrolment caps, despite signalling the need to focus on quality rather than student numbers, although he has been … [Read more...]
The Scan Main Edition # 130
26/07/2013 by
26 July 2013 _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Don't rush reform - UA Major policy reform of the demand-driven system cannot be rushed in just 72 hours and needs further consultation to avoid unintended consequences, according to Sandra Harding, chair of Universities Australia. At a recent meeting with vice-chancellors, higher education Minister Kim Carr asked them for advice on possible budget-neutral alternatives to the $900 million university funding cuts announced in the May budget, possibly by reining in growth in student places. While UA hasn't developed an alternative … [Read more...]
Universities lobby opposition on tax cap
26/07/2013 by
Universities Australia | 25 July 2013 Universities Australia along with 15 other members of the #ScrapTheCap Alliance, have met with the shadow minister for education, Christopher Pyne about the proposed $2000 cap on tax deductions for self-education expenses, announced by former Treasurer Wayne Swan in April. Following the meeting, where all groups expressed strong opposition to the measure, Pyne issued a statement calling on the government to `Scrap the Cap.' Belinda Robinson, Chief Executive of Universities Australia said after the meeting that Pyne's comments are an acknowledgement of the adverse impact the measure will have on the economy and the community. The … [Read more...]