The Victorian parliamentary inquiry into university governance backs more regulation of governing bodies by the national government, plus it proposes new oversight by the State.
In a report tabled yesterday, on a day when it was unclear if Victoria even had an Education Minister due to the elevation of Ben Carroll to the Premier’s chair, the Legislative Council committee conducting the inquiry reported that changes to governance and additional oversight were needed because the State’s public universities do not recognise their social licence is “at risk.”
“Vice-Chancellors rejected arguments presented to the inquiry, that economic and commercial outcomes have been prioritised over social, cultural and educational need,” the committee reports.
“The committee questions how appointments made over the years could have re‑shaped the priorities within councils and shifted focus from teaching and learning, research output and impact to society to a more corporatised approach.”
And it points to submissions on councils’ failures to be accountable “in response to poor actions of the university, such as wage underpayment or an investigation of leadership. The lack of perceived ownership of outcomes is compounded when considering the high remuneration levels of Vice‑Chancellors.”
Recommendations include;
- The State Government amend the public university Acts to require them to assess council members against skills matrix and to publish results in annual reports
- Universities to have a minimum of three elected staff members and two students on council
- Consideration of university processes to appoint council members
- For the State Government to “develop clear mechanisms” for “escalation and accountability” of staff complaints
Change is needed, the committee warns, because, “while universities were clear in their submissions about their intent to serve the public interest and to act as a public good, they did not address the concerns raised by their key stakeholders.”