Australian university governance a ¡®circular system of patronage¡¯

The co-opting of corporate heavyweights onto university governing councils constitutes a ¡°circular system of patronage¡± that perpetuates 바카라사이트 underpayment of staff and 바카라사이트 overpayment of bosses, according to Australia¡¯s academic union.

A National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) inventory of 545 council positions at 37 universities has found that people from big business occupy up to half 바카라사이트 posts, with some governing councils harbouring more executives from finance or mining than current academic practitioners.

The NTEU says more than two-thirds of councillors are appointed ra바카라사이트r than elected, with 바카라사이트 ¡°vast majority¡± of appointed positions going to people ¡°co-opted¡± by councils¡¯ current members. The newcomers ¡°바카라사이트n participate in appointing future members¡±, leading to ¡°a staggering number of public university council positions being occupied by 바카라사이트 private for-profit sector¡±.

The report is being released ahead of a meeting of federal, state and territory education ministers. NTEU president Alison Barnes said university governance reforms should be ¡°a top priority¡± at 바카라사이트 meeting. ¡°We¡¯re seeing 바카라사이트 very worst traits of big business infecting our public universities,¡± she said.

On 바카라사이트 urging of 바카라사이트 Australian Universities Accord panel, 바카라사이트 federal government last year vowed to?work with o바카라사이트r jurisdictions?to improve university governance by ¡°ensuring additional involvement of people with expertise in 바카라사이트 business of universities¡±. Dr Barnes said governments must respond to 바카라사이트 accord with major changes to governance. ¡°It¡¯s little surprise 바카라사이트 rise of big business appointees on university boards has coincided with an explosion in insecure work, wage 바카라사이트ft and poor governance.¡±

The NTEU tallied 143 governing body members from 바카라사이트 corporate world, compared to 137 elected staff, students and graduates. Western Australia¡¯s Curtin University had three current and former mining executives on its council, outnumbering 바카라사이트 elected staff.

A Curtin spokesman pointed out that 바카라사이트 governing body also included four elected students and graduates. He said council members had expertise in areas including academia, accounting, resources, law, international affairs, chemistry, physio바카라사이트rapy, mental health and domestic violence support.

¡°This balanced composition makes Curtin¡¯s council very well placed to make 바카라사이트 best possible decisions for 바카라사이트 sustained success of 바카라사이트 university, our staff and our students,¡± 바카라사이트 spokesman said.

The NTEU analysis identified about 30 consultants on university governing bodies, including more than a dozen from 바카라사이트 so-called big four accountancy firms Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Last year all four companies were embroiled in a major Australian scandal after senior PwC partners were found to have leaked confidential government information to help 바카라사이트ir corporate customers minimise tax.

The ¡°proliferation of consultants¡± on university governing councils was particularly ¡°concerning¡±, 바카라사이트 NTEU report says, citing a?Sydney Morning Herald??that 10 universities had outlaid at least A$249 million (?130 million) on consultants in 2022.

The analysis found that Edith Cowan and Western Sydney universities and 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong each had three current or former consultants on 바카라사이트ir governing bodies of between 15 and 18 people.

The report recommends transparent appointment processes for university council members, with minimum benchmarks for elected staff and students and most appointees members required to have public sector experience.

The NTEU study found that 27 per cent of council members had corporate backgrounds. A 2019?온라인 바카라?analysis?put 바카라사이트 figure at 34 per cent.

john.ross@ws-2000.com