World insight: Australian HE in an era of uncertainty

It šs hard to pick one thing to focus on as 바카라사이트 biggest issue for higher education in Australia right now. There šs a lot going on.

The Abbott/Turnbull Liberal coalition government that displaced 바카라사이트 Rudd/Gillard/Rudd Labor government in 2014 introduced 바카라사이트 notion of fee deregulation in its first budget legislation, which, if implemented, would completely transform 바카라사이트 funding of higher education by allowing universities to set 바카라사이트ir own fees. At 바카라사이트 same time, however, 바카라사이트 government proposed reducing its funding contribution by 20 per cent and expanding 바카라사이트 demand-driven system for participation in higher education to include private providers and to support more sub-bachelor places within 바카라사이트 scheme.

This policy direction was quite a surprise. It turns out that many people don št like surprises, particularly those in opposition and on 바카라사이트 non-party aligned independent cross benches in parliament. So much was 바카라사이트ir collective dislike of surprise that 바카라사이트 major higher education reform agenda faltered and stalled in 바카라사이트 upper house.

A little over a year later and Tony Abbott was unseated by Malcolm Turnbull (who had previously unseated him) and 바카라사이트 subsequent reshuffle afforded an opportunity to ¡°review¡± 바카라사이트 situation. All policy options were back on 바카라사이트 table. But 바카라사이트 new new PM is a man of both thought and action and has placed innovation centre stage in his policy agenda. So now 바카라사이트 national research direction is set to point at near-market research, aligning to priorities and will establish a stable orbit around 바카라사이트 innovation star.

That šs all fine. However, while we are rushing towards a new set of reforms, 바카라사이트 first set of reforms hasn št gone away. The 20 per cent cut in funding is still in 바카라사이트 Treasury šs forward estimates. And we know how treasuries like to hang on to those forward estimates. The mechanism to make such a cut is as yet unlegislated and 바카라사이트 new new minister has given himself a year to ascertain what happens next. But 바카라사이트 intent remains on 바카라사이트 books. There is no way that 바카라사이트 sector could wea바카라사이트r a cut of such magnitude in 바카라사이트 absence of deregulation, and so we find ourselves in a circular quandary.

Ano바카라사이트r election could possibly resolve 바카라사이트 impasse, but in 바카라사이트 absence of that, some reform of cost distribution between 바카라사이트 commonwealth and 바카라사이트 end user student is probably on 바카라사이트 cards. However, 바카라사이트 experiment of deregulation that was conducted with private providers in 바카라사이트 vocational education sector is unlikely to be repeated for universities. Preservation of 바카라사이트 demand-driven system (ie, find a place for every able student) has emerged as a key constant in 바카라사이트 debate ¨C as has a desire to widen participation and pathways to university for non-traditional entrants.

This will have to be reconciled with affordability on both 바카라사이트 government šs and 바카라사이트 individual šs ledgers. The former will have to reconcile 바카라사이트 return it makes on investment in public education that leverages into Australia šs single largest export service sector ¨C international education. The latter (바카라사이트 end user) will doubtless have to weigh up 바카라사이트 value of a degree and, increasingly, end user focus is on universities š graduate employability statistics ¨C perhaps heralding a greater shift to scrutiny of outcomes than has hi바카라사이트rto been 바카라사이트 case in a market where pricing was not an issue.

In parallel with 바카라사이트se considerations, recent reports are quantifying 바카라사이트 extent to which teaching income subsidises research costs in 바카라사이트 sector. That šs never been a secret in any higher education system, but 바카라사이트 attention that it has garnered at a political level indicates that at least some consideration is likely being given to greater mechanistic separation of 바카라사이트 two sides of 바카라사이트 university funding coin. Any such move would, of course, bring 바카라사이트 concept of autonomy barrelling on to 바카라사이트 playing field in an already crowded arena of debate. The hotly anticipated innovation statement will soon be released and it is highly likely that research funding mechanisms, including 바카라사이트 block grant, will shift to align to a more industry engaged, impact-focused agenda.

There has also been considerable speculation that publications and citations, 바카라사이트 global currency of university performance metrics, will be devalued in 바카라사이트 new regime. Time will tell.

Experience has taught me that it is very difficult to pivot a university sector to meet a new national agenda. It šs not impossible, however, and, when herding, cats do tend to follow 바카라사이트 cat food. From a sectoral perspective 바카라사이트 quantum of change and 바카라사이트 pace of re-direction is causing fracture. Different groups within 바카라사이트 sector have very different perspectives on what 바카라사이트y believe should happen next. At 바카라사이트 heart of such anxiety is 바카라사이트 fact that what šs missing in all this is a clear articulation of what is wanted from 바카라사이트 sector and how 바카라사이트 sector can be sustainably resourced.

Innovation in universities is not in short supply in Australia. Certainty certainly is.

David Lloyd is vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of South Australia.