While the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) has been running in an interim capacity, legislation to formally establish it passed parliament on March 31, as the federal government relocates to reform tertiary education following a recommendation from the Australian Universities Accord.
“Of all things in the Accord, I believe this is the most important. This is genuine long-term systemic reform,” said education minister Jason Clare.
The ATEC will steer higher education reform, balancing domestic priorities with global development. It will act as an independent steward for the system, managing implementation of reforms aimed at lifting involvement, enhancing equity, and reinforcing links between trade and higher education.
The ATEC will be accountable for assigning financing under the brand-new government’s new ‘handled growth’ system, managing national requirements, and producing a yearly report on the state of the tertiary education system.
“Instead of the appetite games we have at the moment where universities are motivated to be the exact same size and eat each other alive for students, the ATEC will help us construct something different. It will assist us construct a system that’s larger than we have today, double the size,” continued Clare.
Instead of the appetite video games we have at the minute where universities are encouraged to be the exact same size and eat each other alive for trainees, the ATEC will help us develop something different
Jason Clare, education minister
“It will look at how to make it simpler to move in between university and TAFE and make getting the skills you require quicker and cheaper. It will be independent. It will be able to tell government things they do not wish to hear and call out the important things that need to happen next. This is all part of our work to develop a better and fairer education system,” added Clare.
On the other hand, minister for abilities and training Andrew Giles described the developing of the ATEC as a “excellent turning point for education and training in Australia”.
“We now have a devoted body to drive the work to bring our university and occupation education and training sectors better together. The establishment of the ATEC makes real our ambitions for a joined up tertiary education system, in which trade and higher education paths are equally valued.”
A number of modifications were accepted to the expense, including a boost in the variety of commissioners– a move welcomed by Renée Leon, vice-chancellor of Charles Sturt University, who is now urging the federal government to ensure that a person of these is a designated local commissioner.
“The Accord’s core aspiration is to raise participation and attainment in higher education for disadvantaged Australians, consisting of those living in the local communities we serve,” she said.
“As we have previously stated, regional Australians should have a higher education system that supports their goals and enhances their neighborhoods. More than 80% of Charles Sturt’s local students go on to live and operate in regional Australia after graduation.”
“We stay committed to working constructively with the Commission once its work commences. The Accord’s core ambition is to raise involvement and attainment in college for disadvantaged Australians, including those living in the local neighborhoods we serve,” said Leon.
Leon stated that the ATEC’s decisions will “identify whether universities like Charles Sturt can continue to educate the physicians, nurses, teachers, social workers, agricultural researchers and allied health professionals regional Australia’s neighborhoods urgently require”.
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