The managements of the ten public universities in NSW face an inquiry by the Upper House of State Parliament – coming hot on the heels of the ongoing Senate inquiry into university governance across the country.
The Legislative Council’s social issues committee, chaired by Labor member Sarah Kaine, will consider, “the role of governance structures in safeguarding the public mission of universities, academic freedom, research ethics, student welfare, and social outcomes.”
Dr Kaine is a former UTS academic who criticises the university’s present restructure plan and last week’s announcement by the university that hundreds of courses are on hold for first semester next year.
According to Dr Kaine, the NSW Government has “a role and responsibility” for uversities.
“While it may not control operational decisions, it is responsible for the integrity, governance and long-term viability of institutions that serve public needs.”
The inquiry follows a petition she tabled in parliament that states “drastic restructures” at universities across the state “are affecting both academic and professional staff and threatening the quality and accessibility of public higher education.”
Dr Kaine’s inquiry will address similar issues to those considered by a Senate committee now considering university governance. A separate Senate inquiry into capping vice chancellors pay is also in progress.
This new inquiry follows a 2021 Legislative Council report into tertiary education in NSW which criticised university councils for ignoring the pay disparity between staff and vice chancellors and concluded, “the failure to do this by the governing bodies of universities is evidence of a failure of leadership.”
The NSW Vice Chancellors Committee did not respond to a request for comment by deadline last night.