The interim report from the Australian Universities Accord Panel has received a mixed response from the peak body representing independent providers in the higher education, skills training and international education sectors, the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA).
Higher education is pivotal in shaping Australia’s future, empowering individuals with knowledge, fostering innovation, and nurturing critical thinking. To be its best, it needs reform that positions it as a catalyst for progress and a beacon of hope for a prosperous future. This transformation needs to put students at the heart of the higher education system, and the interim report doesn’t do this,” said Troy Williams, ITECA Chief Executive.
ITECA has cautiously welcomed the consideration given to a ‘Universal Learning Entitlement’ set out in the interim report; however, it believes that the approach could be broadened.
“ITECA’s priority is to ensure that student choice is at the centre of higher education funding, allowing a student to access a government-supported place quality institution of their choice. This would see a significant expansion of the funding system to allow most students to study with independent higher education institutions if that was their decision,” Mr Williams said.
The interim report from the Australian Universities Accord Panel takes a considered approach to closer integration of the higher education and skills training sectors, which ITECA welcomes.
“ITECA has been a strong proponent for a more cohesive tertiary education framework in which the higher education and skills training systems operate as one but retain their separate strengths and identities. The interim report makes some positive steps in this regard,” Mr Williams said,
The option of creating a “Tertiary Education Commission” raised by the Australian Universities Accord Panel has merit, but requires further consideration in ITECA’s view.
“The utility of any such body is to look at the entirety of post-secondary education in Australia and place equal value on the ability of the higher education and skills training sectors to support a culture of lifelong learning,” Mr Williams said.
ITECA continues to believe that the fundamental focus of the government’s reform agenda is misguided.
“The Australian Universities Accord needs to recognise the complementarity of independent and public higher education providers, with a refreshed name – a higher education accord – and fresh policy approaches that are agnostic as to provider type,” Mr Williams said.
The development of the Accord is a critical issue for independent higher education institutions that support more than 10% of the 1.6 million students in a higher education awards program.
Key Facts:
The interim report from the Australian Universities Accord Panel will set the framework for the Australian Government’s higher education reform agenda. ITECA believes that the interim framework from the panel isn’t student centric and doesn’t appropriately back students that want to student with independent higher education providers.
