Jason Clare has long argued that equity and prosperity require expanding all Australians access to a post school education system.
The Australian Universities Accord, released today, is a manifesto for the change the Education Minister wants; but does not detail how it will be funded. While it points to ways to end the divide between higher education and skills training, it leaves the details of the change to an immensely-powerful national agency which is proposed to take overall control of a national system.
The report found that a significant change in direction is required if the tertiary sector is to meet the nation’s future workforce needs – tinkering at the edges would not create enough graduates in required areas.
Changing the shape and size of the sector to achieve parity of representation of regional, Indigenous, low SES and students with disability by 2050 is proposed to build graduate numbers, but will require, “long-term planning, system-wide collaboration and proactive intervention by governments to reduce barriers to evolution and change.”
The Accord makes no bones about handing the reins over to the Federal Government, stating, ” The Review found that improving tertiary education is too important a task to be left to uncoordinated action.”
The Federal Government intervention, through an Australian Tertiary Education Commission, will be a key point of controversy in the reforms.
Key objectives among the 47 recommendations in the Final Report include:
Equity and access
- 80 per cent of Australians with post-secondary qualification(s) by 2050 (60 per cent now) delivered in part by incentives for HE institutions that meet completion targets for disadvantaged students
- “Fairer and simpler student loans “moving towards a student contribution system based on projected potential lifelong earnings”
- More Commonwealth funded postgrad places to meet priority skills shortages
- A national student charter and ombudsman
- Payments for students on mandatory placements
- Greater flexibility in delivery to recognise students’ needs and wishes to continue part-time work alongside their studies
Single skills system
- An integrated skills system codified by a national qualifications framework with universal recognition of people’s achievement via a digital “passport”
- Commonwealth funded “modular, stackable transferable” short courses to meet changing national needs
Funding
- Change from fixed funding to a new model based on EFTSL, discipline and needs-based funding
- Higher Education Future Fund established with $10bn target. Commonwealth to match contributions from universities own sources
Teaching quality
- Calling on Australian universities to use ‘the full potential’ of new teaching technologies such as ai to improve education al outcomes
- Establishment of a teaching quality framework with metrics HE providers must report
International education
- Government engagement in product and market development
Research
- New funding for the Australian Research Council to support fundamental research
- A National Research Workforce Development Strategy
- “Consideration of the suitability and sustainability of the national research funding and governance architecture”
- Incentives for universities working with government, industry, communities
- 50 per cent target for funding indirect research costs
- A “fit for purpose research” quality and impact evaluation system
First Nations
- First Nations knowledge systems and Closing the Gap through First Nations Leadership to become National Science and Research Priorities
- The establishment of a voice to the sector – a First Nations Council to advise Ministers and the Commission
Australian Tertiary Education Commission
- “Policy coordination and development for higher education and university research” and joint development of policy initiatives on tertiary education with the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council
- Pricing authority and funding allocation for the HE system
- The Australian Research Council, the Tertiary Education Quality and Skills Agency and possible the Australian Skills Quality Authority, “should form part of the Commission.”
The Final Report can be found here.
