Last week Uni Queensland VC Peter Varghese spoke up for university independence when regulator TEQSA took control of ANU selecting its next Chancellor. He was, still is, on his own.
The outgoing University of Queensland Chancellor condemned TEQSA’s “regulatory overreach.” The Agency has appointed its former Chair and ex-QUT VC Peter Coaldrake as head of the selection panel to replace Julie Bishop. The regulator will also appoint two further members and has a veto on the University Council’s choice of the remaining two.
Mr Varghese warned, “The Australian community has every right to expect our universities to be run well. But the essence of autonomy is that you are responsible for fixing what has gone wrong and are held accountable for doing so.”
But a week on, he is still on his own. Peak body Universities Australia declined FC’s request for comment. The Innovative Research Universities stated it had no view on Varghese’s statement or ANU governance. The Australian Technology Network and the Regional Universities Network did not respond to inquiries.
And the oft outspoken elite-university lobby, the Group of Eight was similarly silent, on the situation at ANU, which is a member.
So was the University Chancellors Council. Perhaps it has decided one of its “principles of policy partnership,” applies, “sharing of success and taking responsibility when we fall short.”