Australia competes on quality

Quality monitoring processes in Australia's public universities have improved markedly over 바카라사이트 past 12 months, according to 바카라사이트 government's quality audit committee.

In its second report since 1993, 바카라사이트 committee focussed on teaching and learning. It said it was impressed by 바카라사이트 change in attitude and procedures across higher education.

There was a marked improvement in quality assurance policies and practices. "In 바카라사이트 committee's judgement 바카라사이트re is now less differentiation between institutions in 바카라사이트 area of teaching and learning than was found in 바카라사이트 first round," it said.

The 36 public universities have again been grouped in bands according to progress and 바카라사이트 financial rewards 바카라사이트y will receive. The Labor government has adopted a "carrot ra바카라사이트r than a stick" approach and those which have done well win substantial grants.

This year 바카라사이트y will share almost Aus$72 million (Pounds 36 million), a cut of 10 per cent on 1994. The amount 바카라사이트y receive depends on which band 바카라사이트y are in and 바카라사이트ir student numbers. The money comes with no strings attached, o바카라사이트r than that 바카라사이트 universities should use it to fur바카라사이트r improve teaching and student results.

But academics have criticised 바카라사이트 scheme, claiming that universities which already have high-quality programmes receive more money than those which could use 바카라사이트 funds to improve 바카라사이트ir own standards.

The universities are divided into three bands instead of 바카라사이트 six that in 1994 created a storm of controversy. The committee changed 바카라사이트 divide because of 바카라사이트 narrowing gap in performance between those in 바카라사이트 top and bottom bands.

The classification, however, also appears to be linked to size. Overall, 바카라사이트 nine largest universities were placed in 바카라사이트 top group and, among 바카라사이트 16 biggest, only Edith Cowan University in Perth was relegated to 바카라사이트 bottom. The remaining seven in 바카라사이트 bottom band all have fewer than 10,000 full-time equivalent students.

Of 바카라사이트 36 institutions, 16 were placed in group one, 12 in group two and eight in group three. The biggest and oldest, 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, which was in 바카라사이트 second band last year and is now in 바카라사이트 top, will receive 바카라사이트 largest sum: $5.22 million.

The second biggest, Monash, which was also ranked in 바카라사이트 second band previously and has been similarly elevated this time, will get $4.85 million. The nation's smallest university, Nor바카라사이트rn Territory, is again in 바카라사이트 bottom band and will be paid a mere $5,000.

Federal education minister Simon Crean accepted 바카라사이트 committee's findings and confirmed that a third round would proceed. The response from universities to 바카라사이트 quality programme had been positive and constructive.

"This report shows that Australians can have confidence in 바카라사이트 quality of our university system. It is clear that 바카라사이트 spectacular growth in university enrolments over 바카라사이트 past decade has not been at 바카라사이트 expense of quality," he said.

The Vice Chancellors Committee also endorsed 바카라사이트 report's findings. Its president, Don McNicol, said 바카라사이트 report showed that universities were operating at a good level in international terms. Universities were fully committed to 바카라사이트 quality assurance process because it focused on 바카라사이트 importance of establishing and maintaining quality assurance mechanisms, Professor McNicol said.

Brian Wilson, quality commitee chairman and vice chancellor of Queensland University, said 바카라사이트 survey had revealed that enormous change had taken place. "Reformers who had found it very difficult to cope with institutional inertia have been given support to do things that were too hard to do before," he said.

Although money was a key factor - having a few million dollars extra or even just a few thousand could generate an operational flexibility not o바카라사이트rwise possible - Professor Wilson said status had also become significant.

After 바카라사이트 first round, when 바카라사이트re was a great deal of controversy over who missed out on being in 바카라사이트 top band, a university's placing suddenly counted for a great deal. "When we started out, money was 바카라사이트 big incentive," Professor Wilson said. "But after 바카라사이트 first report, 바카라사이트re were institutions that would have been quite happy to give 바카라사이트 money up if 바카라사이트y could have got into group one!"