WEST COMMITTEE RELEASES FINAL REPORT

 The Review Committee on Higher Education Financing and Policy, chaired by Roderick West, has released its final report Learning for Life. The Commonwealth Government commissioned the Review Committee in January 1997 to recommend reforms to equip Australia’s higher education institutions for the next twenty years.

"We must embrace the concept of a ‘learning society’ in which all Australians have access to excellent postsecondary education and training" Mr West said.

"Australia is well served by its university system" Mr West said. "But to ensure we maintain that quality we must meet the challenges that the global knowledge based economy is already imposing on us. This will mean changing the financing and regulatory framework of the higher education system.

"We must free up the education system to ensure that it is more responsive to the needs of students and the community and is able to adapt to Australia’s rapidly changing circumstances."

"The financing framework needs to give university staff greater incentives to engage in scholarly teaching as well as encouraging ground-breaking research. It should promote healthy competition, greater diversity and innovation, and encourage more effective management" Mr West said.

Mr West said the recommendations in the Report are designed to create four key changes:

Give students more say

Students should have a direct relationship with universities and a real say in what universities provide. The best way to achieve this is to ensure that student choice, not negotiation between the Government and universities, drives public funds for teaching.

Place a greater emphasis on teaching

Knowledge is the driving force in the global economy and universities must focus on teaching as a primary responsibility. A teaching culture should exist in universities that is as firmly embodied as the research culture.

Promote nationally rewarding research

University research should be aligned more closely to national needs through a funding framework that emphasises strategic planning, priority setting and greater coordination of the national research effort.

Invest in Information Technology and Infrastructure

Government must assist universities to make investments in information technology and infrastructure that will be necessary to remain world competitive over the next two decades.

Students, universities and their staff and the broader community all stand to gain from the Committee’s recommendations", Mr West said.

"Students will be the main beneficiaries of the Committee’s recommendations. They would gain much greater power to influence the programs that universities offer because their decisions would drive university funding. Students at private universities would receive government funding and have access to income contingent loans similar to HECS rather than face up-front fees as at present. The Committee’s fundamental recommendation is that no student should be liable for an up-front fee to participate in higher education.

"Universities would gain from less government regulation and would be able to manage their own affairs with minimum involvement from the government. The time has passed when governments could regulate universities and dictate to students what they should study.

"Universities will have increased opportunities to have to access funds. Existing controls on tuition fees would be relaxed within limits and universities would have a greater capacity to use and dispose of assets.

"Academic staff would benefit because the funding arrangements would promote a real recognition of teaching expertise and scholarship. Excellence in research would continue to be recognised and encouraged. There would be far greater scope for innovation in teaching and delivery.

"The report is available from the Review web site at /divisions/hed/hereview/default.htm It will also be available from Government bookshops from early next week at no charge to the customer", Mr West said.

 For further information contact:
Committee adviser Stephen Matchett (0417) 469 093 or (02) 9380 6055.

 17 April 1998

[Review Home Page]