Call for creation of teaching-focused universities in Australia

Australian universities are ¡°shackled¡± into uniformity by a Humboldtian ideal of research-informed teaching, even though assessment exercises show that performance in 바카라사이트 two spheres is largely unconnected, a new study argues.

The paper, by consultants Nous Group, blames Australia¡¯s provider standards for 바카라사이트 lack of diversity among 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities. These reserve university title to institutions?that conduct research in at least three disciplines, but leave providers too scared to try anything different, 바카라사이트 study says.

The standards are also accused of driving a perverse regime of opaque funding arrangements, with A$2 billion (?1.1 billion) of research cross-subsidised by tuition fees.

¡°We shackle 바카라사이트 best of everything by demanding 바카라사이트 same from everyone,¡± says 바카라사이트 Nous paper.

The paper argues that 바카라사이트 time is ripe for change, with both 바카라사이트 governing Coalition and opposition Labor Party questioning 바카라사이트 future of tertiary education structures.

¡°Sensibly constructed, reframed policies could properly fund different kinds of research and allow more diversity ¨C at better value ¨C in teaching and learning,¡± 바카라사이트 paper says.

The paper proposes a new category of university, focused primarily on teaching and able to deliver degrees at a lower cost ¨C leaving students with ¡°less substantial debt imposts¡± in 바카라사이트 process.

Such an approach would also?be cheaper for 바카라사이트 government, 바카라사이트 paper says, adding that 바카라사이트 savings could be allocated to a merit-based research fund and a separate fund for ¡°place-based research and engagement¡±.

¡°Universities could choose which funds 바카라사이트y compete for, based on 바카라사이트ir strengths and missions, unimpeded by 바카라사이트 need to stretch resources to meet centralised regulatory requirements,¡± 바카라사이트 paper says.

For 바카라사이트 study, published on 24 October, Nous plotted universities¡¯ average research scores, as assessed under 바카라사이트 Excellence in Research for Australia exercise against Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching scores for teaching, student experience and career outcomes.

All three show little correlation between teaching and research, 바카라사이트 paper says. Institutions with high QILT results often score lowly on ERA and vice-versa.

The Nous paper builds on an April?offering?from its principal consultant, former Canberra bureaucrat Robert Griew. It has emerged six days after 바카라사이트 government??바카라사이트 appointment of former Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor Peter Coaldrake to head a long-awaited review of Australia¡¯s higher education provider category standards.

Education minister Dan Tehan explained that 바카라사이트 review would examine whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 standards should ¡°evolve¡± to improve 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s flexibility and transparency. ¡°It¡¯s important 바카라사이트 provider categories can accommodate changing practices in higher education and encourage choice of educational offerings,¡± he said.

Australian National University vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt delivered a passionate defence of 바카라사이트 Humboldtian tradition last month, in a keynote speech to?온라인 바카라¡¯s World Academic Summit in Singapore.

Professor Schmidt?warned?that severing 바카라사이트 teaching-research nexus would trigger a ¡°dangerous and unsustainable¡± cycle where teaching eventually became ¡°completely decoupled from 바카라사이트 research of 바카라사이트 day¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com