Thursday, 13 March 2008

This morning, Minister Gillard announced a review of higher education.

(see speech here: http://mediacentre.dewr.gov.au/mediacentre/Gillard/Releases/AHigherEducationRevolutionCreatingaProductiveProsperousModernAustralia.htm)

From the speech I have cut and paste the following:

The review will report on the future direction of the sector, its capacity to meet the needs of the Australian community and economy, and the options available for ongoing reform.

In particular the Review panel will examine and advise on how to progress a number of key objectives for higher education.

1. the creation of a diverse set of high performing, globally-focused institutions, each with its own clear, distinctive mission.
2. improving the sector’s contribution to increased economic productivity and labour market participation. In making recommendations on this point, the Review will take into account current economic, workforce and demographic trends.
3. the improvement of funding arrangements for the sector, taking into account public and private contributions and the development of funding compacts between the Australian Government and institutions.
4. widening access to higher education and improving student support programs so as to promote social inclusion and individual opportunity; and
5. to ensure the highest possible standards – because ultimately the future of the system rests on the quality and reputation of its teaching and research.

The review will consult with State and Territory tertiary education authorities and invite submissions from the sector and community. It will collaborate with and take account of the work of the Review of the National Innovation System and the Government’s new skills advisory body Skills Australia.

The Chair of the review is Denise Bradley (former VC of UNISA)

Other members of the Review Expert Panel are:
    €     Peter Noonan,  consultant in vocational and higher education with experience in vocational education in the Commonwealth, Queensland and Victorian Governments;
    €     Helen Nugent, who has an extensive background in business, higher education, the arts , and who chaired the 1999 Ministerial Inquiry into the Major Performing Arts; and
    €     Bill Scales, who is currently Chancellor of Swinburne University of Technology and Chairman of the Port of Melbourne Corporation.

The Review will provide a report on priority action by the end of October and a final report by the end of this year.

The Minister also stated clearly that the recommendations of the Review will build on the proposed mission-based compacts for triennial funding to support distinct missions and are intended to be implemented in time for 2010 calender year.

Regards
Bradley


Bradley Smith
Executive Director
Federation of Australian Scientific and Technological Societies
FASTS
GPO Box 259
Canberra City  2601
ph: 02 6257 2891
fax: 02 6257 2897
Mobile: 0408 511 261
E-mail: fasts@anu.edu.au
www.fasts.org