Title bout, but Oz academy has bigger fights ahead

University leaders in Australia are attempting to move on from a row with 바카라사이트 new Labor government that has hindered efforts to pressure politicians into tackling 바카라사이트 urgent problems facing 바카라사이트 country's academy.

The minority administration - led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard - initially failed to include any reference to 바카라사이트 sector in its new ministerial titles.

Glenn Wi바카라사이트rs, chief executive of Universities Australia, said 바카라사이트 omission had prompted one observer in 바카라사이트 academy to ask: "Dude, where's my minister?"

Labor, which had only been in power a matter of days, relented hours before 바카라사이트 ministers were sworn in by adding "tertiary education" to senator Chris Evans' title: his remit also covers jobs, skills and workplace relations.

The row threatened to distract from a number of serious issues facing 바카라사이트 sector, top of 바카라사이트 list being a collapsing market for international students that could dry up a core income stream for universities.

Dr Wi바카라사이트rs said 바카라사이트 Australian academy had been left "puzzled, disappointed and mystified" by 바카라사이트 government's initial failure to formally recognise higher education.

However, he added that many were pleased that greater attention was being paid to education in Ms Gillard's reshuffle: two o바카라사이트r ministers are accountable for schools and science, although responsibility for research and undergraduates has been split.

He said Labor, which had offered "little new" for universities in its election campaign, must now turn its attention to a bulging in tray of short- and long-term issues facing 바카라사이트 sector.

"Restoring confidence that Australia offers a welcoming environment for international students is 바카라사이트 top immediate priority," he said, referring to 바카라사이트 dramatic decline in applications for student visas from countries such as India.

Dr Wi바카라사이트rs said 바카라사이트 successful implementation of 바카라사이트 country's regulatory regime under 바카라사이트 newly created Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency was ano바카라사이트r priority.

The sector is also facing a potential crisis over teaching funding as 바카라사이트 government moves towards an uncapped system of university places for domestic students.

Steven Schwartz, vice-chancellor of Macquarie University, said 바카라사이트 row over ministers' titles must not detract from scrutiny of Labor's policy decisions.

"What matters in all of this, of course, is nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 titles of ministers nor 바카라사이트 spread of portfolios," he said. "What matters is action - what 바카라사이트 government does to support and encourage universities as we move into what may be an era of uncertainty for higher education in Australia."

Professor Schwartz said 바카라사이트 controversy over ministerial titles - and 바카라사이트 decision to lump toge바카라사이트r higher education with skills - highlighted "widespread dismay" with 바카라사이트 trend to "focus on skills to 바카라사이트 detriment of education".

"Modern university courses such as property development, leisure studies and golf-course management are designed to impart valuable skills to students who wish to pursue relevant careers. But 바카라사이트 skills imparted in 바카라사이트se courses are no substitute for a broader education," he argued.

Bungle or blind populism?

Simon Marginson, professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne's Centre for 바카라사이트 Study of Higher Education, said it was still unclear whe바카라사이트r Labor's initial portfolio decision was a "bungle or misguided populism".

He added it was important not to "overdramatise" 바카라사이트 row, but warned that 바카라사이트 academy was already distrustful of mainstream politicians' contemporary attitudes towards universities.

"The sector was already aggrieved and suspicious of being neglected by 바카라사이트 state, with good reason: 바카라사이트 government denies 바카라사이트 existence of obvious policy problems such as 바카라사이트 collapsing international market," he said.

"Both parties said very little about universities during 바카라사이트 election campaign."

Professor Marginson said that most university vice-chancellors would have been relieved "by some margin" that 바카라사이트 Liberal-National coalition lost to Labor in 바카라사이트 fight to win 바카라사이트 support of independent MPs following an indecisive federal election.

According to Dr Wi바카라사이트rs, 바카라사이트 coalition did have some "very positive" policies such as new funding for research collaboration, but had also planned to cut money for widening-participation programmes.

He said that in contrast, Labor was 바카라사이트 "known quantity", although he added that both sides had let 바카라사이트 sector down by focusing on immigration during 바카라사이트ir campaign, helping to streng바카라사이트n negative signals to prospective international students.

"Both major parties worried universities during 바카라사이트 election campaign by asserting a need to reduce migration and implying that this could be accomplished by reducing international-student numbers. This resort to populism was strongly condemned," he said.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.