The decision to fully accept the report’s recommendations comes hot on the heels of the Government’s announcement that it will accept all the recommendations of the Review of Higher Education Regulation.
Today’s announcement follows Universities Australia’s submission to the Commission of Audit calling for significant deregulatory and efficiency initiatives, including some that have been accepted by the Government today in its response to the PhillipsKPA report.
“By agreeing to the 27 recommendations in this report, the Government has taken another important step in releasing universities from regulatory and reporting confinement,” said Belinda Robinson, Chief Executive of Universities Australia.
“Taken together, these recommendations will produce savings over time for Government through increased efficiency and will help to reduce compliance costs for universities, allowing them to divert more resources to the core business of teaching, learning and research,” Ms Robinson said.
Measures include:
- The development of a single national higher education data collection and information repository;
- An annual listing of reporting requirements including for agencies that sit outside of the Department;
- The development of a single equity report to at least in part replace the Institutional Performance Portfolio Information Collection;
- Developing a single higher education research data collection;
- Removing tuition protection service reporting requirements for universities;
- The application of risk and proportionality in assessing reporting obligations;
- Reducing, streamlining, better aligning and reducing duplication in reporting associated with CRICOS, TEQSA, the ESOS Act; and
- The development of a standard university financial reporting template and protocol.
“These measures are welcomed by all universities and Universities Australia looks forward to working with the Government on planning for implementation, including securing the necessary resources to meet start-up costs,” Ms Robinson said.
Universities Australia has estimated that universities spend approximately $280 million a year on regulatory compliance and reporting.
