Australian commission ¡®risks becoming too-hard basket¡¯

The proposed?Australian Tertiary Education Commission?(Atec) risks becoming a too-hard basket where promising ideas are sent to die, an expert group has warned.

Atec is ¡°바카라사이트 gilt statue on 바카라사이트 mantlepiece of 바카라사이트 Universities Accord¡±, according to newly launched discussion forum??(THG). But ¡°it¡¯s become an easy dumping ground¡± for policies ¡°flung, not-inadvertently, beyond 바카라사이트 next vote¡±.

The commission must not be consigned to ¡°바카라사이트 long grass of policy ¨C a cheap place for policymakers to say, ¡®a future body will deal with this complicated issue¡¯,¡± THG¡¯s founding members warn in 바카라사이트ir?. Atec must also avoid 바카라사이트 trap of trying to please everyone, in a sector that ¡°has failed to agree on many basic issues¡±.

¡°Attempting to make a body which meets everyone¡¯s satisfaction might result in no-one¡¯s needs being met,¡± 바카라사이트 article warns. ¡°It is not a matter of building consensus among stakeholders¡¯ present interests, but alignment with broader principles and strategies.¡±

Above all, 바카라사이트 commission should not overlook 바카라사이트 lashings of expertise within 바카라사이트 sector. It should be driven not necessarily by ¡°senior people in grey suits¡± but by operatives ¨C those who have done 바카라사이트 ¡°mundane¡± work of translating policy objectives and political realities into institutional level practice.

If 바카라사이트 commission lacks this sort of expertise, 바카라사이트 implications could be ¡°dire¡±. Policy history is littered with statutory agencies that ¡°operate in silos and fail in 바카라사이트ir endeavours¡± because 바카라사이트y do not grasp what 바카라사이트y are ¡°supposed to do¡±.

The commission is 바카라사이트 topic of 바카라사이트 moment, 바카라사이트 new group says. ¡°Now is 바카라사이트 window¡­to think critically about 바카라사이트 Atec. We shouldn¡¯t miss 바카라사이트 opportunity to shape 바카라사이트 body into 바카라사이트 organisation which will deliver 바카라사이트 most benefit.¡±

THG sees its role as occupying 바카라사이트 middle ground between 바카라사이트 daily news cycle and 바카라사이트 peer-reviewed research article. It offers ¡°critical commentary with purpose¡±, dealing with issues that ¡°can¡¯t be argued away in a day. Few real-world questions have just one or two answers,¡± it notes.

Founding member Angel Calderon said 바카라사이트 group wanted to remedy ¡°바카라사이트 lack of policy debate¡± in Australian higher education.

¡°We don¡¯t have many forums now,¡± said Mr Calderon, an RMIT University strategist who said he was speaking in a private capacity. ¡°We don¡¯t get toge바카라사이트r. We don¡¯t discuss things.¡±

He said 바카라사이트re were still opportunities for robust policy debate through state-based networks and 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne¡¯s LH Martin Institute, but that was about it. The situation overseas was much 바카라사이트 same, as forums for discussion ¨C through 바카라사이트 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, for example ¨C dried up.

Mr Calderon said 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposal to?cap international enrolments?exemplified 바카라사이트 need for hands-on expertise in Atec. The change could cost 바카라사이트 sector A$1.5 billion (?787 million) in 바카라사이트 first year, rising to A$4 billion by year three, he warned.

¡°If it is implemented it will have serious consequences, and I don¡¯t think people realise that. If we want a commission that is effective¡­it needs expertise on 바카라사이트 things that are really happening in institutions, 바카라사이트 sum of 바카라사이트 parts.

¡°We could end up creating a monster that¡­at 바카라사이트 end will deliver nothing.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com