Higher Education Trends Reform and Developments Australia Shandong University at Weihai, Shandong, C

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Higher Education TrendsReform and Developments
(Australia)Shandong University at Weihai,
Shandong, China19 July 2004
Presentation by Professor Di Yerbury
AO President Australian Vice-Chancellors
Committee
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AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES
Central Queensland University James Cook
University
Bond University Griffith University Queensland
University of Technology University of
Queensland University of Southern
Queensland University of the Sunshine Coast
Charles Darwin University
Curtin University of Technology Edith Cowan
University Murdoch University University of
Western Australia
Flinders University University of Adelaide
University of South Australia
Southern Cross University University of New
England
Charles Sturt University Macquarie University
University of Sydney University of Newcastle
University of New South Wales University of
Technology Sydney University of Western Sydney
University of Wollongong
Deakin University La Trobe University Monash
University RMIT University Swinburne University
of Technology University of Ballarat University
of Melbourne Victoria University
University of Tasmania
Australian National University University of
Canberra
Multi-State Australian Catholic University
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AUSTRALIAS POPULATION BY STATE/TERRITORY (000)
Source 2001 ABS Yearbook Australia (1995
data) ABS 3101.0 Australian Demographic
Statistics (18Mar04) (Sept 2003 data)
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AUSTRALIAN POPULATIONCOUNTRIES BY BIRTH
Sources Australian Bureau of Statistics 1901
Snapshot Census 2001
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AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM- PATHWAYS
Age
University and other higher education
Vocational education and training
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Senior secondary
Junior secondary
Primary
12
Pre-school
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Source www.aqf.edu.au/lp.htm
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AUSTRALIAN QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK
Source http//www.aqf.edu.au/thirteen.htm
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STUDENTS IN SCHOOL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND
TRAINING (VET) (millions)
Sources ABS Schools 2001, Publication 4221.0
VET statistics collections
ncver.edu.au
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GROWTH IN UNIVERSITY STUDENT NUMBERS 1950 2003
Source DEST Higher Education Student Statistics
(incl. unpublished data)
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GROWING DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY NOS
(Selected Years)
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STATIC UNIVERSITY STAFF NUMBERS (And High
Student/Staff Ratios)
Source DEST Selected Higher Education Statistics
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OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS BY BROAD FIELD OF
EDUCATION
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HIGHER EDUCATION CONTRIBUTION SCHEME

• The successful HECS arrangement was introduced by
  Labor Government (Australian Labor Party) in 1989
• Students make a partial contribution towards cost
  of degree
• Students can pay their HECS upfront (with a
  discount)
• or they can pay their HECS later, through the tax
  system, when they start earning a certain level
• Coalition Government later changed to introduce 3
  cost bands for HECS

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CHANGING FUNDING SOURCES ()(1992 2002)
Source Prior to 1993, DEET National Report on
Australias Higher Education Sector, May 1993
(Table 4.6) from 1993 onwards, DEST Selected
Higher Education Finances Statistics
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CHANGING FUNDING SOURCES ()(1989 2002)
Source DEST Selected Higher Education Statistics
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STUDENT EXCHANGES
Inbound students
Outbound students
Source AVCC UMAP Survey, 2001
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FORMAL AGREEMENTS BY COUNTRY(MAY 2003)
Includes Hong Kong (SAR) Source AVCC Survey of
International Links of Australian Universities,
2003
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OFFSHORE PROGRAMS BY COUNTRY (MAY 2003)
Includes Hong Kong (SAR) Source AVCC Survey of
Offshore Programs of Australian Universities,
2003
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ACCOUNTABILITY OR INTERVENTIONISM?

• Autonomy in Australian Universities versus the
  Four Rs
• Regulation
• Reporting
• Review
• Risk management
• Multiplicity of requirements
• across portfolios, and levels of government
• The threshold issue serving the academic mission

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MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

• International requirements
• Immigration law (ESOS Act in particular)
• CRICOS Register (of courses)
• National University Governance Protocols
• Funding increase linked to compliance
• Industrial Relations Protocols
• Funding available if compliant
• Quality Assurance Framework

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THE QUALITY ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK FOR HIGHER
EDUCATION
States/Territories Accreditation based on
National Protocols
Commonwealth Funding, monitoring, publication of
performance data, provision of tools
AUQA (Australian Universities Quality Agency)
Audits
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THE REVIEWATHON1988 to 2003

• Dawkins Revolution 1988-1989
• Hoare Report 1995
• West Review - 1997-1998
• Kemp Review 1999
• Wills Report 1999
• Knowledge and Innovation 1999
• Senate Inquiry (1) 2000-2001
• Crossroads Review 2002-2003
• Senate Inquiry (2) - 2003

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THE CROSSROADS REVIEW

• The kind of Australia in which the next
  generation will live, to a large extent will
  depend on Australias institutions of higher
  learning universities
• The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson MP
• Minister for Education, Science and Training
• (Higher Education at the Crossroads, April 2002)
• A diverse system to be maintained
• Over-regulation to be minimised

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AVCC VISION 2020 OUR GOALS FOR AUSTRALIA

• At least 60 of Australians to access higher
  education during lifetimes
• At least one world class research centre in each
  significant academic field
• International education one of our top three
  value-adding exports
• Australian investment in higher education to
  reach 2 of GDP currently 1.5
• A fair go for Indigenous Australians through
  university education, research community
  service
• With a new, dynamic funding framework

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AVCC REFORM AGENDA

• Passage of acceptable legislation in 2003, with
  increased funding
• for implementation from 2004 2005
• including higher threshold for HECS repayment
• respect for diversity and choice
• Involvement of education and political
  consultants to advise on lobbying
• Inaugural Universities meet Parliament event
  June 2003
• Prime Ministers commitment to a reform package

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THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE CROSSROADS REVIEW

• Our Universities Backing Australias Future
  May 2003
• 2003 Federal budget a ten year vision for
  Australian higher education
• Legislation Higher Education Support Act 2003
  (HESA)
• including flexible HECS
• passed in December with important amendments on
  unacceptable provisions
• first major injection of funds for many years
  (some funds available only if compliance)

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STILL A LONG WAY TO GO

• Only partial catch-up for lost funding
• No effective indexation to maintain the value of
  that funding
• Insufficient support for equity needed in part
  to balance flexible HECS changes
• Seriously interventionist in respect of
  university decisions and reporting
• Lack of support for internationalisation of
  Australian students
• Insufficient support still for disadvantaged
  groups, especially Indigenous students

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GOVERNMENT REFORMS RE RESEARCH INNOVATION

• Wills Report 1999
• health and medical research reforms
• Knowledge and Innovation 1999
• New research and research training funding
  framework introduced
• Backing Australias Ability 1 2001-06
• promoted innovation and commercialisation
• continued in BAA 2 2004-10
• But still no reinvestment in core university
  research capacity

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THE GAP TO 2 OF GDP GOVT OTHER INVESTMENT IN
RD TO 2010
Source GDP figures derived from Appendix D to
Budget Overview 2004
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NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE (1)

• Increased scrutiny of quality
• by government agencies, students, business and
  others
• Intensified competition between institutions
  countries
• including price differences in Australia
• More complex and interdependent institutional
  relationships
• partnering twinning
• More diverse forms of delivery
• Increase in diversity of students

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NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE (2)

• Increased mobility of staff students
• Continued internationalisation of curriculum
• and all other aspects of universities
• Focus on non-government income
• including leveraging campuses (such as RD Parks
  and corporate tenants)
• more industry funding for research
• Greater attention to institutional professional
  development

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BUT AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE?

• 2004 Federal Election likely to be a close race
  for the first time since 1996
• The renewed Australian Labor Party
• Their policies and our response
• Proposed wind back of key BAF elements
  especially domestic undergraduate fees and
  flexible HECS
• Promised indexation, but no commitment on partial
  catch-up
• You have been warned Deputy Leader, the
  Hon. Jenny Macklin

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AVCC ELECTION STRATEGY Pursuing the AVCC 2020
Vision

• Core funding increased
• Indexation to maintain its value
• Extra places to meet demand
• Improved student income support
• Fair go for Indigenous Australians
• Research and Innovation targets
• More support for International mobility of
  Australian students

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Higher Education Trends Reform and Developments
(Australia)Shandong University at Weihai,
Shandong, China19 July 2004
Presentation by Professor Di Yerbury
AO President Australian Vice-Chancellors
Committee