Public Purposes, Academic Autonomy, Accountability And Governance Colin Walters Australia

Public Purposes, Academic Autonomy, Accountability And Governance The National Governance Protocols The Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs) Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) The National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes

National Governance Protocols The Protocols deal with: – responsibilities of governing bodies; – duties of members and sanctions for their breach; – Election and nomination of members; – maximum size and composition of the governing body; – induction and professional development for members; – codified grievance procedures and annual reporting; and – set minimum standards for the oversight of controlled and associated entities.

Areas for Improvement 1. Require governing body members to inform themselves fully on matters they are determining; 2. Require the governing body in approving the mission and strategic direction, annual budget and business plan to take into account the distinctive role of the particular provider; 3. Require the governing body to approve a strategic asset management plan; 4. Require the governing body to produce an annual report which must include reporting on performance indicators that have been set by the governing body;

Areas for Improvement 5. Require the governing body to consider information on the performance and comparative performance of the institution produced by DEST; 6. Prohibit delegation from the governing body of responsibility for financial decisions that have the potential to affect the financial viability of the provider; 7. Reduce the maximum number of governing body members from 22 to 14; 8. Limit the terms of governing body members to 12 years and require a majority decision by a governing body for any term to exceed 8 years (and require explicit consideration of the continuing capacity of the proposed appointee to discharge their responsibilities);

Areas for Improvement 9. Require appointment by the governing body of a Secretary (who is not the Vice-Chancellor/CEO) to provide a direct source of advice on governing body responsibilities and legal issues; 10. Make more explicit the qualifications and experience requirements for the minimum number of members (2) that must have financial expertise; 11. Strengthen the fiduciary responsibilities of governing body members to include a prohibition on improper use of information and disclosure of confidential information; 12. Require grievance procedures to be easily located on a provider’s web site; and 13. Require further improvement in the oversight of controlled entities.

Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs) HEWRR 1 Choice in agreement making HEWRR 2 Direct relationships with employees HEWRR 3 Workplace flexibility HEWRR 4 Productivity and performance HEWRR 5 Freedom of association

Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) No compulsory student union membership for students No compulsory fees for non academic services

National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes Protocols served as effective ‘gatekeeper’ and protected quality in the sector May also have shaped characteristics of providers Need for greater diversity Increased interest from overseas providers Dramatic growth of private higher education market

Drivers for change Protocols served as effective ‘gatekeeper’ and protected quality in the sector May also have shaped characteristics of providers Need for greater diversity Increased interest from overseas providers Dramatic growth of private higher education market

Key changes to National Protocols New specialist universities New University Colleges New pathways for self-accrediting status for institutions other than universities Clearer rules for overseas institutions Apply to all new and existing institutions Compliance assessed through AUQA audits Current and new Protocols available on MCEETYA website at