Read a copy of the NTEU’s member briefing paper here (pdf download).
Read the NTEU media release
The National Tertiary Education Union welcomes the release by the Minister for Education Julia Gillard, of the final report of the Review of Australian Higher Education.
The report’s recommendations for significantly increased public investment for both teaching and research in higher education are strongly supported by NTEU. The proposed injection of nearly $6 billion over 4 years will go a long way to improving the quality and accessibility of universities after 15 years of neglect. The importance of regionally based and outer metropolitan universities is recognised and the report’s specific recommendations will help promote the future viability of regional Australia.
NTEU is encouraged that the Minister has indicated that the Government’s response to the Report will be based on the core principles of opportunity for all, access based on merit and not ability to pay and maintenance of academic freedom and institutional autonomy.
The Union strongly supports recommendations for improved student income and scholarship support. Increased educational opportunity is critical to improving workforce participation and productivity, especially among those who are seeking a second chance education. Indigenous education and participation is an important example.
One of the important issues identified in the report is that of recruitment and retention of academic staff within universities. The union looks forward to working with both Government and individual universities to help develop strategies to overcome impending staffing shortages including policies aimed at increasing the number of home-grown academics, training more postgraduate students, improving the relative attractiveness of working conditions, and providing greater job security and flexibility in working arrangements.
The proposed student demand driven model needs further consideration. The introduction of such a model may undermine the viability of the provision of less popular, high cost and nationally important education programs in science, mathematics and languages.
The proposed funding arrangements have the potential to disadvantage universities compared to private, non university providers who do not have the same research and community service obligations. A good case has not been made to subsidise these private providers.
