Higher Education Influences in Australia

Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs

Ministerial Responsibilities for The Hon Dr David Kemp MP include:

• higher education
• school policy strategies
• international policy and programmes
• Aboriginal employment, education and training policies.

See <http://www.deetya.gov.au/minwn/kemp/kemppr.htm>

DEETYA

The Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs is responsible for the administration of Commonwealth programs for funding higher education institutions. Some of its roles are policy development, assessments and providing advice to the Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs. Its divisions include HED and NBEET.

See <http://www.deetya.gov.au/>

HED

The Higher Education Division of DEETYA administers Commonwealth programs in cooperation with other bodies e.g. AVCC, Australian Research Council (ARC) and HEC. Among others, it is responsible for Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), Australian Postgraduate Award (APA), National Officer of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOORSR), EIP and HEIP.

See <http://www.deetya.gov.au/divisions/hed/highered/>

EIP

The Evaluations and Investigations Program of DEETYA funds studies and research projects which evaluate performance and investigate issues of national importance to Australian higher education policy. It has a number of publications e.g. The Good Universities Guide to Access & Equity Programs 1997-98.

See <http://www.deetya.gov.au/divisions/hed/highered/eip.htm>

HEIP

The Higher Education Innovation Program of DEETYA aims `to enable the higher education system to improve the quality of higher education provision through innovative projects' by promoting `international collaboration and research links with countries of strategic importance to Australia's interests' and supporting CUTSD.

See <http://www.deetya.gov.au/divisions/hed/highered/heip.htm>

CUTSD

The Committee for University Teaching and Staff Development replaces Committee for Advancement of University Teaching (CAUT) and Commonwealth Staff Development Fund (CSDF). It encourages practical improvements in teaching and staff development by allocating funds ($20 million over three years) to support outstanding innovative projects through competitive grant programs.

See <http://services.canberra.edu.au/CUTSD/>

UniServe

UniServe Australia was an initiative of CAUT and currently administered by CUTSD. Its purpose is to enhance the quality of university teaching by maintaining and publishing relevant up-to-date and innovative material about university teaching and learning.

See <http://uniserve.edu.au/uniserve/>

NBEET

The National Board of Employment, Education and Training division of DEETYA provides independent advice to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training. Its key bodies relevant to higher education are the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the Higher Education Council (HEC).

See <http://www.deetya.gov.au/nbeet/nbeet.htm>

HEC

The Higher Education Council of NBEET provides advice on the future development of higher education, specifically on priority setting, programs to address priorities, funding, the HECS, and educational profiles. HEC gives special consideration to the need to increase opportunities for participation in higher education and the need to ensure the adequate quality, relevance and flexibility of higher education.

See <http://www.deet.gov.au/nbeet/hec/hec.htm>

AVCC

The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee is the peak organisation representing Australian higher education and currently has 37 member universities. It seeks to advance higher education by acting as a consultative and advisory body for all university affairs and by promoting the needs, interests and purposes of Australian universities nationally and internationally. The AVCC's standing committees include Education and Students, Research, Resource Analysis, Information Resources, International Issues, and the AARNet Board of Management.

See <http://avcc.edu.au/index.html>

HERDSA

The Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia seeks to advance higher education by bringing together and supporting those engaged in teaching; in the study of learning, teaching and policy; and in the continuous improvement of higher education. Its membership includes vice-chancellors, deans, teaching staff, learning skills specialists, staff developers, other research and administrative staff, and concerned members of the community.

See <http://sunsite.anu.edu.au/education/herdsa/index.html >

NTEU

The National Tertiary Education Industry Union's `primary objective is to defend and improve the living standards of NTEU members, as well as their working environment and professional interests ... through industrial and political activity...'.

See <http://www.edunions.labor.net.au/nteu/union/nteuunio.html>

CAPA

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations is an affiliation of postgraduate associations in Australian universities. Its two main roles are to perform research into postgraduate education, and to lobby governments and other peak bodies (eg. NTEU and NUS) on postgraduate issues.

See <http://www.ozemail.com.au/~postgrad/web/windex.html>

NUS

The National Union of Students is `the national student representative body for tertiary students in Australia. It was formed to give a coherent national voice for the needs of Australian university students and to represent students, their needs and rights on a national level ... NUS is primarily focussed on representing and advocating for students...'.

See <http://cleo.murdoch.edu.au/nuse/>

OLA

Open Learning Australia is `an education broker between students and educational providers, offering all Australians, regardless of age, location or educational qualifications, the opportunity to study university units and TAFE (Technical and Further Education) modules leading to degrees, diplomas and other qualifications'.

See <http://www.ola.edu.au/>

ASCILITE

The Australian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education is a society for all professionals in post-secondary computer-based education and training. From the president's report: `Flexible Delivery is seen almost universally as a direction in which higher education must move. However, it is necessary that any such adoption of technology be based firmly on what is educationally appropriate, rather than on what is technologically possible or administratively convenient. ASCILITE has an important role in informing this debate'.