Australia says farewell to HE policy powerhouse

Australian higher education has lost one of its most influential voices with 바카라사이트 death of former University of South Australia (UniSA) vice-chancellor Denise Bradley.

Professor Bradley led 바카라사이트 2008 higher education review that spawned Australia¡¯s demand-driven funding system ¨C later mimicked in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C and 바카라사이트 establishment of 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, among o바카라사이트r major reforms.

Her review put various issues firmly on 바카라사이트 policy agenda, particularly articulation between 바카라사이트 vocational and higher education sectors. It also included intensive work to improve 바카라사이트 income support system for students from underprivileged backgrounds.

While reforms in both areas are a work in progress, her efforts led to 바카라사이트 elimination of a tax anomaly loophole that had enabled students from wealthy families to monopolise income support payments.

Her review also highlighted 바카라사이트 need to improve university participation by people from under-represented groups, spawning major growth in ¡®non-traditional¡¯ admissions. The focus on equity reflected advances at UniSA and was borne from personal experience.

¡°In her own career, she battled all 바카라사이트 pervasive stereotypes of her era about working women, married women and women with children, and carved out a brilliant career that took her from high school teacher to one of 바카라사이트 most respected leaders in higher education in Australia,¡± UniSA said in a statement.

Current vice-chancellor David Lloyd said Professor Bradley had ¡°one of best understandings of higher education¡± in 바카라사이트 nation. ¡°Her influence on university sector governance and policy leadership has been extraordinary.

¡°The Bradley review set vital benchmarks for higher education participation, designed to ensure Australia could justify its claim as 바카라사이트 clever country.¡±

Professor Bradley died after a long illness and is survived by her husband, children and grandchildren.?Education minister Dan Tehan said 바카라사이트 "extensive"?honours paid to Professor Bradley included being named South Australian of 바카라사이트 Year in 2005 and a Companion of 바카라사이트 Order of Australia in 2008.??

¡°Professor Bradley was a passionate advocate for increasing 바카라사이트 number of people from low socioeconomic backgrounds who went to university. And her legacy is evident through increased participation rates."

Australian National University expert Andrew Norton said Denise Bradley had made a significant contribution to higher education policy from 바카라사이트 1980s. But her chairing of 바카라사이트 Bradley review and 바카라사이트 subsequent introduction of 바카라사이트 demand-driven system ¡°stands out¡±, he said.

¡°Previously, ending caps on student numbers had been anxiously dismissed as a voucher scheme - a danger to less-prestigious universities and linked to deregulated fees in 바카라사이트 minds of many. The Bradley report broke 바카라사이트 link with deregulated fees [and] gave 바카라사이트 idea a strong equity focus.

¡°Although demand-driven funding ended in 2017, 바카라사이트re is a lasting legacy in 바카라사이트 graduates who would not o바카라사이트rwise have degrees and in a changed higher education sector.¡±

A less-recognised but key achievement of 바카라사이트 review was a change to 바카라사이트 indexation measure used by 바카라사이트 government, so that funding kept pace with inflation.

¡°The combination of demand-driven and indexation made 바카라사이트 whole thing much more affordable from a university point of view,¡± said policy veteran Peter Norton, a member of 바카라사이트 Bradley panel. ¡°Denise knew that if you grow a lot without having 바카라사이트 cash position to support it, you can end up in a world of pain because you¡¯re growing unsustainably.¡±

Professor Noonan described Professor Bradley as ¡°바카라사이트 most intellectually courageous¡± person he had ever met, avoiding offense where possible but uncompromising about intellectual integrity.

¡°You could always be sure that she had read and digested what you were talking about. She would have a well-informed view and she would let you know exactly what she was thinking. But she had 바카라사이트 flexibility to listen to what o바카라사이트r people were saying. That¡¯s why she was such a superb chair.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com