The peak body’s new chair has a message for government – UA is keen to cooperate
As Dan Tehan (education) and Karen Andrews (industry, innovation and science) are sworn-into their old jobs today, Curtin U VC Deborah Terry takes over as Universities Australia chair. And she gets straight down to business – pitching shared objectives as the basis for a working relationship with the government.
“My responsibility is to work closely and collaboratively with the government, she tells CMM.
And this means addressing the challenge, she says government and universities share – ensuring there are study opportunities for the “Costello bump”, the spike in prospective students who will be ready for university in 2021-23. “Mr Tehan calls tertiary education the ‘great enabler’ and my goal is to ensure there are opportunities for them.”
As well as young people born in the years when former Treasurer Peter Costello was encouraging the three-child family, Professor Terry also points to the need to lift participation among Indigenous and regional Australians.
But how should the Wellings Review, expected shortly, recommend growth places be allocated? Professor Terry says “a one size fits all model is hard to apply, that arrangements need to be nuanced. “It’s really important to understand where the education gaps are.”
As to innovation, Professor Terry welcomes Minister Andrews continuing in the portfolio, “she understands the importance of research and innovation.” However, while UA’s chair says government has responded in part to the Ferris, Finkel, Fraser review of research and development tax incentives ministers need to go back and look again at recommendations in the Three Fs. Although Professor Terry would not be drawn, a major recommendation which had widespread university support was for a tax concession for industry that partnered with universities and public research institutions on research and development.
On long term policy changes Mr Tehan will consider, Professor Terry is for adapting on one and status quo the other.
She says the Coaldrake review of higher education provider categories should leave things as they are, reserving the title of university for institutions that both teach and research. But she suggests the Noonan review of the Australian Qualifications Framework should consider the potential role of micro-credentials. “Graduates are going to have to re-skill and up-skill. Postgraduate offerings are going to have to evolve to meet new needs.”
But Professor Terry’s main message for now is the necessity for student places, in the locations where they will be needed. “We need a discussion with government to think through shared challenge of places for young people to meet needs of the economy. Industry is as concerned as we are to have skilled workforce.”