Education Minister Jason Clare released the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report on Wednesday 19 July 2023. The first part of the Interim Report provides five priority actions that require immediate attention. The second part sets out the Review’s initial views about larger issues that will appear in the Final Report. The Review’s conclusions will follow further consultations, submissions, studies and testing.
Priority Action 1: Extend visible, local access to tertiary education by creating further Regional University Centres (RUCs) and establish a similar concept for suburban/metropolitan locations.
Priority Action 2: Cease the 50% pass rule, given its poor equity impacts, and require increased reporting on student progress.
Priority Action 3: Ensure that all First Nations students are eligible for a funded place at university, by extending demand driven funding to metropolitan First Nations students.
Priority Action 4: Provide funding certainty, through the extension of the Higher Education Continuity Guarantee into 2024 and 2025, to minimise the risk of unnecessary structural adjustment to the sector. Interim funding arrangements must prioritise the delivery of supports for equity students to accelerate reform towards a high equity, high participation system.
Priority Action 5: Through National Cabinet, immediately engage with state and territory governments and universities to improve university governance, particularly focusing on universities being good employers; student and staff safety; and membership of governing bodies, including ensuring additional involvement of people with expertise in the business of universities.
The larger issues that will be addressed in the Final Report are centred around eight key objectives:
1. Putting First Nations at the heart of Australia's higher education system
2. More students enrolled in higher education, a fair system that ensures access and attainment, and a larger system that better meets national jobs and skills needs
3. Meeting Australia's future skills needs
4. Equity in participation, access and opportunity
5. Excellence in learning, teaching and student experience
6. Fostering international engagement
7. Serving our communities
8. Research, innovation and research training
Supporting those objectives are 57 policy areas the review will consider for the Final Report. These include progressing the recommendations of the Review of the Australian Qualifications Framework, creating a universal learning entitlement, better integration between VET and higher education, and improving work-integrated learning including through options like degree apprenticeships.
The final report will be submitted to the Minister for Education in December 2023. This report will consider responses to the Interim Report from interested parties. Submissions relating to the Interim Report are due by 1 September 2023.
Read Ai Group’s initial response
Make a submission to the Interim Report
The Ai Group Centre for Education and Training presented a webinar examining the Universities Accord with Chair of the Universities Accord Panel, Professor Mary O’Kane AC, and Ai Group Chief Executive, Innes Willox, on 21 August. Watch the webinar here
