The Australian | 1 August 2014 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… The Grattan Institute’s Andrew Norton says the government will need to negotiate its proposed higher education reforms through the Senate, as most will require legislation to implement. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… He said the government’s 20% funding cut will have to go through the Senate, while changes to HELP loans also require legislative amendments. Norton said the government’s plan to open the market for bachelor degree subsidies to non-university providers will need legislative amendments to establish a definition for those institutions eligible for the subsidy. These will likely be … [Read more...]
Senate inquiry splits on TEQSA bill
23/06/2014 by
The Australian | 19 June 2014 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… A Senate inquiry into a bill to restructure the higher education regulator has split along party lines. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… The majority report of the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee has recommended the Senate to pass the bill to streamline the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). The bill would take away its broad quality assessment role, spill the commissioners and restructure the commission, and enlarge the minister’s power to give directions to the agency. It would give commissioners more power to delegate decisions, and allow TEQSA to … [Read more...]
The Scan | #154 | 13 June 2014
13/06/2014 by
TEQSA "gardening leave" confirmed 13 June 2014 | It has been confirmed at Senate Estimates that chief higher education regulator Carol Nicoll has taken indefinite leave and her future is tied to legislation that would restructure the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. A Bill introduced in late February by education minister Christopher Pyne would spill the positions of TEQSA’s five commissioners, splitting the roles of chief commissioner and chief executive both of which are currently vested in the person of Dr Nicoll. It would also strip away the agency’s broader role in quality assessment.....[ MORE ]…. VET susidy cuts in Queensland 13 June 2014 | The … [Read more...]
Review of Higher Education Standards Framework
13/06/2014 by
The Higher Education Standards Panel has invited comment on proposed revisions to the Higher Education Standards Framework, which govern the approval processes for becoming and remaining a higher education provider. The Panel’s third Call for Comment includes background information on the Panel’s approach and consultation process, as well as instructions for the submission of comments. The closing date for comments is Friday 27 June 2014. … [Read more...]
TEQSA “gardening leave” confirmed
13/06/2014 by
The Australian | 13 June 2014 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… It has been confirmed at Senate Estimates that chief higher education regulator Carol Nicoll has taken indefinite leave and her future is tied to legislation that would restructure the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… A Bill introduced in late February by education minister Christopher Pyne would spill the positions of TEQSA’s five commissioners, splitting the roles of chief commissioner and chief executive both of which are currently vested in the person of Dr Nicoll. It would also strip away the agency’s broader role in quality … [Read more...]
ACPET National Monday Update Edition 557, 9 June 2014
11/06/2014 by
In Focus Great news for VET and a tussle in higher education... As members will have seen from ACPET's comments on Friday on our social media platforms - we are as pleased as our RTO members with news that from 1 July ASQA will automatically update scope of registration for equivalent training package products and not charge fees for these administrative changes. Details have been sent by ASQA to all RTOs it registers. In case you missed it, the information is on the ASQA website. ... Read more National ACPET's Health Check offer for members As part of members’ renewal for 2014/15, ACPET is offering a $500 discount on any of its Health Check services … [Read more...]
The Scan in May 2014 – top ten reads
02/06/2014 by
VET in the Budget – the government’s statement 13 May 2014 | The “tools for your trade payments” for apprentices will cease from 1 July 2014. It will be replaced immediately with a Trade Support Loans Program providing $439m over five years to provide apprentices with financial assistance up to $20K over a four year apprenticeship through a student loan repayment scheme. The Government will also establish an Industry Skills Fund to provide $470m over four years to support the training needs of small to medium enterprises that cannot be met by the national training system. Expenditure is budgeted to decline about 13% in 2014-15 over 2013-14 (from $1.67 billion … [Read more...]
V-C slams fee deregulation
29/05/2014 by
27 May 2014 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… In an email to staff, Swinburne vice-chancellor Linda Kristjanson has expressed concern about five aspects of the recent Budget. In particular, she has joined a number of other vice-chancellors in voicing her opposition to fee deregulation and higher interest charges on HECS loans, which she says will lead to a "higher education system characterised by the haves and the have nots." ……………………………………………………………………………………………….......…… Many staff attended briefings on the Federal Budget and there is a high level of interest in what the changes might mean for Swinburne. Although the package is complex and has many elements, these are the five … [Read more...]
The Scan Early Edition – # 151 – 27 May 2014
27/05/2014 by
___________________________________________________________________________________________ Fees to double: NTEU 27 May 2014 | Analysis by the National Tertiary Education Union of the impact increased university fees predicts that degrees such as engineering, law and dentistry could cost over $100,000, and medicine could rise to as much as $180,000. On average, the cost of degrees will more than double. Higher fees when combined with the new market-determined interest rate, will take more than twice as long to pay back for some degrees. For graduates that take time out from the workforce to care for family members, HELP debts might not be paid off until they reach their late … [Read more...]
