Australia’s recent higher education reforms, characterized by a collaborative approach and an embrace of massification, offer a compelling blueprint for the United Kingdom to consider, according to several experts. These reforms, encapsulated in the Universities Accord final report, propose significant changes aimed at enhancing the sector’s inclusivity and effectiveness.
The Universities Accord, commissioned by an incoming Labour government, took over a year to complete and resulted in 47 recommendations. Many of these were accepted in the recent budget, signaling a strong governmental commitment to transformative education policies.
Professor Andy Westwood, a government practice expert at the University of Manchester and former special adviser to Labour universities ministers, highlighted potential parallels between Australia and the UK. He noted that the UK could face similar fiscal challenges and a politically sensitive environment for higher education if a new left-wing government comes into power. Such a government would likely be proactive, aiming to reshape higher education’s future role.
“While the English sector has experienced numerous reviews in recent years, many have been highly technical,” Westwood remarked during a Higher Education Policy Institute webinar. “What we’ve lacked is a comprehensive conversation about the sector’s fundamental purpose. The accord boldly addressed this, setting a clear direction.”
Libby Hackett, CEO of the Sydney-based James Martin Institute for Public Policy and former chief executive of the UK’s University Alliance mission group, emphasized the collaborative essence of the accord. She stated that its framework promoted a unified and constructive dialogue between the government and universities, fostering a spirit of partnership.
“From the outset, the government framed this as a collaborative model, engaging with the sector positively and constructively,” Hackett explained. “It felt very much like a partnership, with the sector actively participating.”
The accord includes ambitious targets, such as aiming for 80 percent of working-age Australians to hold tertiary qualifications by 2050. Hackett noted that this framework effectively countered negative rhetoric about expanding higher education by linking it to growth and equity, presenting a positive, evidence-based message.
“The accord transformed the expansion of higher education into a shared responsibility between the government and universities, aiming towards equity targets,” she said. “This shared mission approach was established from the beginning.”
Another key proposal from the accord is the creation of a tertiary education commission, intended to provide oversight, coordination, and expert advice to the higher education sector. Duncan Ivison, former deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney and incoming vice-chancellor at the University of Manchester, praised the accord’s endorsement of mass higher education as both beneficial and just.
“The accord has provided a framework for a fair approach to the massification of higher education, which is a powerful concept for us to consider in the UK,” Ivison asserted.
He also pointed out that Australian higher education policy has often been plagued by cultural conflicts, frequent changes in ministers, and flawed policies. However, the collaborative process employed in Australia’s reforms could serve as a valuable model for the UK.
“The emergence of a new government committed to a systematic review of the higher education system, executed in a collaborative manner, marked a significant shift in both tone and policy development,” Ivison observed. “This is an important and positive lesson for UK higher education to reflect upon.”
In conclusion, the collaborative nature and ambitious goals of Australia’s higher education reforms provide a noteworthy example for the UK. By fostering a unified approach and addressing equity and growth through evidence-based strategies, the UK could similarly transform its higher education landscape, ensuring it meets future challenges and opportunities head-on.
