Butter Chicken, HE and the Danger of Solving the Wrong Problem
November 27, 2025
At the heart of higher education … It is about the student. If we fail to start with their needs, values, and aspirations, everything else is decoration.
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QUT failed to pay its people properly
November 26, 2025
QUT has had to accept an enforceable undertaking as part of penalties for underpaying 433 continuing/casual staff (it is checking for more). They are owed amounts ranging from $10 to $78,000.
CSIRO cuts to grow
November 25, 2025
A week after announcing research staff cuts, CSIRO sets out its priorities – and the numbers of people who will pay for them.
Two systems, Divergent Paths: UK vs Aust reforms
November 25, 2025
Australia and the UK are grappling with like challenges: skills shortages, equity gaps, research impact, regional reach and lifelong learning. Unlike the HE Accord, the Post-16 ‘white paper’ is conceptually of immense breadth, complexity and integration; starkly different to Australia’s more separated policy approaches.
VET attrition: it’s better than it looks (at least when it is visible)
November 25, 2025
VET completion rates for 2020 starters were 49% by last year
Students work out their own AI ethics
November 23, 2025
Among all the angsting that students will used artificial intelligence destroy the process of learning, Margaret Bearman (Deakin U) and colleagues used a novel approach – they asked 79 of them, in 20 online focus groups.
Unis dig in to control research publishing costs
November 23, 2025
A team representing university libraries has suspended negotiations with for-profit journal giant Elsevier on subscription costs and community access to its content.
O’Kane’s farewell address: all the work she will not be around to do
November 23, 2025
Mary O’Kane had a “nagging wish” for a unifying theory of higher education to be the basis of the Universities Accord to “lead us to a sector which is more appreciated by the community at large.”
HE approaches 2026 inflection point: Skrbis
November 21, 2025
After decades of theoretical discussions about technologies or businesses that could threaten higher education, Australian universities are approaching a critical inflection point, ACU Vice-Chancellor Zlatko Skrbis has said.
Fixing the Dents in a broken-down car
November 21, 2025
TEQSA has done a good job in ensuring that the quality of the sector is maintained and Australia’s reputation is not put in danger, but it is perplexing that we keep emphasising risks and adding more bumper bars, seat belts, indicator lights, GPS systems, and airbags, to the car, when the actual problem is that several universities have run out of petrol.
I’m not one to beat up on unis but …
November 21, 2025
Jason Clare’s TEQSA speech made his agenda for early 2026 quite clear.
Clare says brace on race, TEQSA power
November 21, 2025
Insights from Jason Clare’s TEQSA speech this week.
Leaders sign up for 26 to watch in ‘26
November 20, 2025
Details about the 26 to watch in ’26 webinar coming on 1 December.
News analysis hints at HE reputation issues
November 20, 2025
Analysis of news articles in Australia this year compared to a decade provide a potential glimpse into the depths of public dissatisfaction with the university sector.