QualityinAustralianHigherEducation.pdfVIP

Quality in Australian Higher Education Mark Darby Director, Australian Education International Transforming Higher Education “Australia’s universities have a critical part to play in making this country stronger, fairer and more prosperous... ... If we are serious about the future... Then we have to be serious about lifting the capacity and performance of Australia’s universities.” Higher Education Joint Ministerial Statement House of Representatives, 2 February 2010 Transforming Higher Education • The objectives of the Australian Government’s education agenda is to support a higher education system that: – Is characterised by quality, diversity and equity of access; – Contributes to the development of cultural and intellectual life in Australia; and, – Is appropriate to meet Australia’s social and economic needs for a highly educated and skilled population. Transforming Higher Education • The Government has set two critical targets for Australian Higher Education – – 40 per cent of 25 to 34 year olds will hold a Bachelor’s qualification or above by 2025; and, – 20 per cent of higher education enrolments at the undergraduate level will be from people from a low socioeconomic background by 2020. • A key aim of the agenda is to increase the size of the sector while improving both quality and the consistency of regulatory requirements. Australian Universities • Australian universities are autonomous institutions established by Commonwealth, State, or Territory legislation. • Austra