Higher education regulation
Joint statement declares support for ‘new form of stewardship’ as legislation faces rocky ride through Senate
Legislation to create Australia’s tertiary education steward has passed the lower house of federal parliament ahead of a looming Senate showdown
We discuss why the University of Sussex is challenging the OfS in court and what it could mean for freedom of speech, institutional autonomy and the role of the regulator
Court documents show Kathleen Stock feared ‘chilling effect’ of university trans policy as she was ‘never assured’ she would not face disciplinary action as a result of contravening it
OfS investigation finds students at provider delivering franchised degrees also told how to avoid detection by plagiarism software
Government faces horse-trading in the Senate, as shadow minister flags outright rejection of bill to establish commission
Call for government to create new position mirrored on role that already exists in further education, to help steer sector while avoiding excessive regulation
Visa applications from the subcontinent go under the microscope, as Canberra finalises measures to combat onshore poaching
‘Do it properly or don’t bother,’ commission sceptic advises, as others argue for more chiefs
Senior leaders selected to help guide higher education watchdog as it attempts to work more collaboratively with sector
Interim leaders’ early departure the latest snag in controversial commission’s troubled birth
English regulator warns multiple unnamed universities may have breached consumer protection legislation
Institutions warn delays after reopening of English sector registrations are jeopardising their financial sustainability
Research into impact of higher education policy changes hard to find and not always utilised by politicians, report finds
Plan to replace several longstanding regulators with single Higher Education Commission could put union government in conflict with states, critics fear
English regulator proposes exemption to participation, financial and governance conditions for some providers ahead of expected expansion of sector
Body mirrored on one being set up to oversee nuclear power could help universities avoid ‘excessive’ bureaucracy, according to Nigel Thrift
New legislation creating Australian commission represents ‘the obliteration of the idea that universities have purposes independent of government’, critics say
‘Seriousness’ of dodgy behaviour overrides concerns about ministerial overreach, inquiry concludes
As government finalises legislation for forthcoming commission, architect expands its to-do list
Assistant minister doubles down on integrity measures, saying those who doubt the government’s determination ‘have rocks in their heads’
Evidence level system encourages scams while making little difference to institutional obligations, critic says
Proposed integrity bill risks making it almost impossible for new entrants to launch, starving sector of innovation, experts warn
Innovation expert who previously held senior roles at RMIT back Down Under after four-year stint in West Midlands
Governments leaning on agencies to convert autonomous institutions into ‘strategic national asset’ but face task like ‘herding cats’
Teaching and learning issues dominate grievances raised with new Australian body set up primarily to tackle gender-based violence on campuses
New principles that would require universities to publish executive salaries and conduct v-c performance reviews ‘should be mandatory’
Schools coming under ‘intense pressure’ to enrol students as universities become ever more reliant on cross-subsidy
Regulator says universities should only enter partnerships when they are satisfied that teaching and support standards will be maintained
Warnings revised TEF rules could damage universities with a widening participation agenda and fail to weed out bad actors
Government urged to close ‘regulation loophole’ to better protect staff and students from risks of money laundering
Incoming conditions require institutions hoping to access student loan funding to be upfront about course changes and compensation processes
Regulation proposed after concerns about quality but critics say it presents ‘individual solutions to collective problem’
Regulator reviewing processes after administrative mix-up weeks before applications set to reopen
Institutions including Liverpool and Southampton to continue to ‘discourage’, rather than prohibit, staff-student relationships despite new regulations, as others opt for partial bans
Buckinghamshire New University ‘still wants to do franchising but not be reliant on it’, says Damien Page
Several student protection directions active in last financial year, with 71 institutions subjected to formal monitoring
