The Control of Universities
26 December 2004
It has been a week when the future control of universities has
been brought sharply into focus.
The Federal Minister, Dr Brendan Nelson, released his first
issues paper 'Rationalising Responsibility for Higher Education in
Australia', with another discussion paper due in February. In the
meantime, the Federal Department has arranged for every
vice-chancellor to be interviewed and my turn will be early in
January.
Also during the week the University Council met to discuss a
letter from the State Minister, Anna Bligh, about the draft
'University Legislation Amendment Bill 2005', which includes
changes for all university acts, including University of the
Sunshine Coast, in order to respond to the new 'National Governance
Protocols'.
An interesting debate is almost bound to follow in 2005 over the
control and governance of universities between State and Federal
Governments.
The Nelson 'issues paper' tracks the changes that have taken
place in higher education, especially since World War II. It then
looks at Federal and State responsibilities, the international
situation, and finally, the benefits and risks if universities were
the responsibility of the Federal Government alone.
Sydney is mentioned as the first of Australia's public
universities (1851), and University of the Sunshine Coast as the
newest (1996). In that period there have been enormous changes,
with a clear trend in the last half-century, supported by both
sides of politics, for the Federal Government to assume greater
control.
In the last ten years or so, student numbers in higher education
have moved from just over half a million to almost a million in
2003.
In 1939 the States provided over 40 per cent of funding, but now
contribute a very small proportion (2 per cent).
In Queensland in recent years the Premier has consistently
stressed the importance of universities in contributing to the
'Smart State' agenda, and USC itself has been deeply committed to
regional economic advancement. It was not a surprise, therefore, to
see the Premier openly oppose the moves by the Federal Minister to
open up the debate to allow for a possible future takeover of
Queensland's universities.
Queensland's desire to maintain influence over university
governance is reflected in the State Minister's views on the
composition of Councils of universities, which our Council
discussed on Tuesday.
Our Council had previously recommended to the Minister an
increase of regional people on the governing body, but the State is
proposing that at least one-third of the membership should be
government appointees, which in our proposed Council would mean six
government appointees, reducing the scope for University Council
itself to make appointments.
Many local people have expressed to me that there are too few
opportunities for involvement to reflect the sense of 'ownership'
they wish to feel for their University. But the State Minister also
feels she has significant and legitimate interests of the State to
protect.
The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee is yet to be
convinced about the benefits in the changes being discussed, for
staff, students or communities.
But there is no doubt that there is a strong debate being
commenced, and it will be interesting to see how 2005 unfolds, who
will ultimately gain control of Australian universities, and what
the implications will be for university autonomy.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of University of
the Sunshine Coast