Senate Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education References Committee

TERMS OF REFERENCE

The capacity of public universities to meet
Australia’s higher education needs

On 12 October 2000 the Senate referred to the Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education References Committee the inquiry into the capacity of public universities to meet Australia’s higher education needs, with particular reference to:

(a) the adequacy of current funding arrangements with respect to:

1. the capacity of universities to manage and serve increasing demand,
   
2. institutional autonomy and flexibility, and
   
3. the quality and diversity of teaching and research;

(b) the effect of increasing reliance on private funding and market behaviour on the sector’s ability to meet Australia’s education, training and research needs, including its effect on:

1. the quality and diversity of education,
   
2. the production of sufficient numbers of appropriately-qualified graduates to meet industry demand,
   
3. the adequacy of campus infrastructure and resources,
   
4. the maintenance and extension of Australia’s long-term capacity in both basic and applied research across the diversity of fields of knowledge, and
   
5. the operations and effect of universities’ commercialised research and development structures;

(c) public liability consequences of private, commercial activities of universities;

(d) the equality of opportunity to participate in higher education, including:

1. the levels of access among social groups under-represented in higher education,
   
2. the effects of the introduction of differential Higher Education Contribution Schemes and other fees and charges and changes in funding provision on the affordability and accessibility of higher education,
   
3. the adequacy of current student income support measures, and
   
4. the growth rates in participation by level of course and field of study relative to comparable nations;

(e) the factors affecting the ability of Australian public universities to attract and retain staff in the context of competitive local and global markets and the intellectual culture of universities;

(f) the capacity of public universities to contribute to economic growth:

1. in communities and regions,
   
2. as an export industry, and
   
3. through research and development, both via the immediate economic contribution of universities and through sustaining national research capacity in the longer term;

(g) the regulation of the higher education sector in the global environment, including:

1. accreditation regimes and quality assurance,
   
2. external mechanisms to undertake ongoing review of the capacity of the sector to meet Australia’s education, training, research, social and economic needs, and
   
3. university governance reporting requirements, structures and practices; and

(h) the nature and sufficiency of independent advice to government on higher education matters, particularly having regard to the abolition of the National Board of Employment, Education and Training.

The Committee was due to report by the first sitting day in August 2001.

The Committee invites persons and organisations wishing to express views on some or all of the terms of reference relating to this inquiry to lodge written submissions by the end of March 2001 with:

The Secretary
Senate Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business
and Education References Committee
Suite S1.61 Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Fax: (02) 6277 5706
Email: eet.sen@aph.gov.au

The secretariat would prefer submitters to send in submissions in electronic form via email to eet.sen@aph.gov.au Please remember to include contact details in your email.

Information is available from the Committee Secretary on (02) 6277 3520 or fax
(02) 6277 5706.