Edward Slade’s Post

What impact will the Australian Tertiary Education Commission recommended by the Australian Universities Accord have on universities when it is implemented, likely in 18 months? Higher education expert, John Dewar, has published an editorial opinion in The Australian that discusses the major changes this body will bring to higher education in Australia and six strategic decisions universities need to make as a result. Read the full opinion piece https://lnkd.in/gkaY25Y8 #ATEC #highereducation #strategicmanagement

*A new Funding Model for Australian Universities* It was a privilege to support the Australian Universities Accord Panel to design a new funding model for teaching and scholarship. This was one small piece of the comprehensive review of higher education by the Accord Panel, expertly led by the brilliant Prof. Mary O'Kane, setting out an ambitious vision for the sector and for Australia. We were able to apply the fire-power of the JMI model to harness experts from across Australian universities, working closely with the Panel to determine their preferred model. 'Freedom within a Framework ' The Panel's commitment to driving equity comes out through the introduction of needs-based funding for the first time (widely welcomed by the sector). As does their deep understanding of the importance of independence and autonomy of these diverse institutions - creating a stable funding environment based on a clear set of principles that deliver 'freedom within a framework ' for our universities. And the beauty of the Accord process was that the Panel got to consider this in a holistic framework for higher education, alongside the need for core funding for research and innovation. Tertiary Education Commission From a public policy perspective, the most transformational proposal could be the call to establish a Tertiary Education Commission, responsible for stewarding the system for future generations of Australians. A body responsible for working with government and tertiary institutions to navigate a clear, long-term path for the sector and its contribution to the economic and social prosperity of this nation. What an opportunity for good! All credit to the Australian Government and Minister Jason Clare MP for setting such a bold and collaborative vision for the Accord - we look forward to what next ... James Martin Institute for Public Policy Mark Scott Professor Barney Glover AO Andrew Parfitt Attila Brungs Renée Leon Patricia Davidson Professor Emma Johnston AO FAA FTSE Kirsten Andrews Prof. the Hon. Verity Firth, AM Amy Persson Deborah Sweeney Andy Marks David Currow Mark Hoffman https://lnkd.in/gWEJkMUZ

DASSH members welcome the release of the Universities Accord Interim Report and a number of its key recommendations, many of which reflect submissions made to the Advisory Panel.   You can read President Nick Bisley's statement here: https://lnkd.in/gCjHWVR6 A few key takeaways include: A large number of DASSH recommendations have been adopted by the Panel including: - Scrapping Job-Ready Graduates - Adopting a needs-based funding model - Changes to Youth Allowance to make it easier for students - The establishment of a First Nations Council - Funding the full economic cost of research - Improving the quality of student experience and wellbeing The Report points to the fact that higher education provides essential benefits to Australian society beyond increasing the number of skilled workers. We welcome the Panel's focus on intellectual endeavour, creativity, personal accomplishment, free discussion, democracy and quality of life. In order to meet these objectives any next steps must include investment in the full range of academic disciplines, such as the arts, social sciences and humanities as well as more vocational education. Our members strongly welcome the opportunity to bring a focus onto skills in the arts, social sciences and humanities through the recommended National Skills Passport.   We also urge the Minister for Education Jason Clare MP to give full weight to the Panel’s comments about the importance of knowledge and transferrable skills in a modern economy. To take a purely vocational approach to higher education risks sidelining the critical role universities and their graduates play as outlined in the Report. The Panel has also recommended the establishment of an Australian Tertiary Education Commission which would have a very broad remit. If the recommendation that a TEC be established is adopted, we urge the Minister to consider the risk of administrative burden on universities, high costs, of possible mission creep that undermines the independence of universities and the possibility of a narrowing view of what higher education is. Ultimately the Final Report provides a vision of a more equitable, well-funded and student-focussed tertiary education sector. We strongly applaud that ambition, one for which DASSH members advocated over the course of 2023.   Consultation around the Universities Accord was in depth and broad ranging and DASSH Board members Matt McGuire, Deborah Gare, Lori Lockyer, Kate Darian-Smith, Heather Zwicker, Cynthia White and Robert Greenberg led by President Nick Bisley thank the Panel for the opportunity to contribute to this process.

For all who work in UK international education or who have seen its benefits over many years both at home and overseas, one important aspect of today’s Universities UK Blueprint is that international education underpins almost every chapter of this report, not only the one on Global Reach. British research is cross-subsidised by international fees, but also carried out by international teams including researchers who have worked all over the world, or perhaps came to British universities first as international students. Our leading PIs are often international as are our partners and collaborators. Civic impact is also underpinned by international students and staff. There would be no Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (and related apprenticeship training centre) in South Yorkshire without international industrial partners and the first engineer placed in a local company — daughter of a Vietnamese boat refugee. Economic impacts are well rehearsed but regional hospitals and dentists practices are sustained by international students undertaking placements. And NHS consultants are often international and on joint contracts with universities, like the Indian consultant who treated my son Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust Universities need help, but have so much to offer. That will only truly succeed though as The Royal Society has noted if scholars, teachers, support staff and students from overseas are welcome in word and deed. British universities are international to their core and global leaders because of it. Universities UK International National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK University World News Pie News Higher Education Policy Institute Study Group UKCISA #WeAreInternational

Australian universities have fallen in Times Higher Education's 2025 World University Rankings - and today's news that an Australian Senate committee has endorsed legislation to cap overseas enrollments in Australia’s tertiary institutions spells much more trouble ahead. The just-released THE World University Rankings 2025 saw seventeen of Australia’s 38 ranked institutions losing ground, including it's five best-ranked universities. Seven recorded their worst results in at least nine years, while just four moved up the league table. The sector has been hit by a combination of declining reputation in THE's annual Academic Reputation Survey, financial difficulties following Covid lock-downs and declining international collaborations. You can see the hit to universities' rankings in the graphic below. The The Group of Eight, representing the eight top research universities in Australia, said that the rankings results were "the canary in the coalmine for the higher education sector... universities, leading economists, business and industry have consistently warned the government that a blunt cap on international students will be disastrous for our $50 billion international education sector." Despite this, a Senate committee has endorsed legislation to cap overseas enrolments in Australia’s tertiary institutions, saying international education “must be managed”. In a report published on 9 October, the Education and Employment Legislation Committee recommended relatively minor changes to the bill, including removal of the education minister’s power to set course-level caps at universities. With major parties backing the legislation, the controversial enrolment quotas appear a done deal More on the rankings results - and the full ranking tables - can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ed_j6twB There's more on the Senate committee report, from John Ross, here: https://lnkd.in/eUtF2DSX #THEUniRankings #THEWAS I'll be discussing this on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) ABC Radio Melbourne Breakfast programme with Sammy J. at around 7.15am this morning (Australia time).

Australian public university individual international student #caps have now been released and that does not appear to be much logic in them. In an effort not to turn this post into a political play, we will just state the obvious: there are winners and losers, and some losers will need to completely re-think their business model and its sustainability. Overall, while we are still opposing this measure, the university caps do not seem as bad as initially thought, and, had the caps been imposed at course and nationality level, it would have been a #disaster. We also suspect VET and private higher education providers will cop the brunt of this. While most universities will go through this unscathed and some will thrive, it's hard to see how many private colleges will survive. This is - and will be - the most consequential measure implemented in Australian higher education in decades. What is your view on the university caps? Thansk The PIE and Polly Nash for the brilliant article. https://lnkd.in/gY6UsNg3

In light of the recent Times Higher Education's 2025 World University Rankings, it's evident that Australian universities are facing significant challenges. With seventeen out of thirty-eight ranked institutions seeing a decline, including some of the country's best, it highlights a crucial moment for our education sector. The combination of decreased Academic Reputation Survey results, financial setbacks due to the pandemic, and reducing international collaborations paints a concerning picture. Furthermore, the Australian Senate committee's move to endorse legislation capping overseas enrollments adds to the complexity. As the Group of Eight warns, this could have profound impacts on a sector that is integral to our economic landscape, valued at $50 billion. This situation demands thoughtful discourse and strategic action from all stakeholders involved. It's not just about adjusting to rankings but addressing underlying issues that could affect the global position and sustainability of Australian higher education. As we navigate these challenges, it's essential to reflect on the potential long-term impacts of such policies on our global educational footprint and consider comprehensive strategies to bolster international collaborations while maintaining quality education standards.

A 70% tertiary participation target, fees rising with inflation, increases to teaching grant, and a phase-two "transformation fund" to fuel efficiencies, adoption of AI, reforms to teaching and more focused research budgets. Today, Universities UK sets out its vision for a sustainable but reformed English higher education landscape, in the hope of influencing the government before it sets out its spending plans this autumn. UUK’s blueprint has been shaped by various high-profile commissioners, including University of Bath professor Nick Pearce, who calls for a "whole-of-tertiary sector participation target of 70% of the population aged 25 studying at level 4 or above by 2040, with a particular focus on increasing access in low participation neighbourhoods". Other commissioners include former ministers Peter Mandelson, who sets out proposals for reforms to research funding, and David Willetts who outlines his vision for a new "global strategy for universities". Meanwhile, Shitij Kapur, vice-chancellor of King's College London and John Rushforth, executive secretary of the Committee of University Chairs, tackle financial sustainability, with recommendations addressing three key pain points: • Increasing funding for teaching to meet the real costs through a combination of linking fees to inflation and restoring the teaching grant. • Ensuring policy stability in relation to international students in order to achieve sustainable, managed growth. • And reversing the decline in quality related funding for research. The blueprint was launched today by Sally Mapstone, president of UUK, who said the country faced a choice between developing better and stronger universities or letting them “slide into decline”. “We must choose the former path”, said Dame Sally, principal of the University of St Andrews. “This is not just government’s responsibility. It is a shared responsibility with universities themselves, and one which we are taking head on with this blueprint.” Read Times Higher Education's report from Thomas Williams here: https://lnkd.in/efxEkfkK We also have a summary of everything you need to know about the blueprint's recommendations here: https://lnkd.in/eWrrwahz

It's a big week for Australian higher education with the Federal Budget to incorporate the next stage of the government's response to the Universities Accord review report. What are we going to be looking out for this week? First off, credit to Education Minister Jason Clare MP and Treasurer Jim Chalmers MP for their early action on key Accord recommendations. Many of these are in line with recommendations from the Innovative Research Universities (IRU), including uncapped Commonwealth-supported places for all Indigenous students and financial support for students undertaking compulsory placements. In our pre-Budget submission for 2024-25, we highlighted key areas where urgent reforms are needed - starting this year - in order to deliver on the Accord's recommendations and for a more equitable and innovative higher education system. 1. The implementation of the new needs-based funding system, including a larger and fairer allocation of places in enabling programs. 2. Reform of the Job-Ready Graduates (JRG) policy package. 3. Increased student income support to deal with cost-of-living pressures. 4. A whole-of-government approach to reform of research policy and funding. 5. Investment in Indo-Pacific partnerships. We will be keeping an eye out for these things tomorrow and will work constructively with government on the next steps. https://lnkd.in/gYHkaYjG

📊 Financial Pressures in UK Higher Education The UK Higher Education sector faces unprecedented financial challenges: 📉 Financial pressures and deficits: According to HESA, a significant number of HE institutions are operating in deficit due to rising operational costs. As universities navigate budget constraints, effective recruitment is more important than ever. 💷 Managing costs in recruitment: With tuition fees set to increase to £9,535 in 2025/26, universities must ensure that additional income is allocated strategically. TPP can support universities in attracting high-quality talent without the high costs often associated with in-house hiring processes. 🌍 Reducing dependency on international income: Many institutions rely heavily on international student income. As global competition rises, there's a need for sustainable funding that reduces this dependency while ensuring the UK remains a top destination for study. 🏢 Navigating staff shortages and retention: Cost pressures and limited budgets make it difficult for universities to attract and retain staff. By accessing a wide network of qualified professionals, TPP can help institutions address short-term staffing needs efficiently, maintaining teaching and research quality. 🤖 Future-proofing workforce needs: Universities UK suggests that AI, collaboration, and new organisational structures could help universities build resilience. TPP are positioned to support universities by providing flexible staffing solutions, strategic hires, and valuable market insights—helping the sector meet today's financial pressures while building resilience for the future.