Education Minister Simon Birmingham has appointed the four-person expert panel to sift through more than 1200 responses to the higher education options paper released on Budget night.
The panel will work alongside the Turnbull Government to develop a higher education policy plan for consideration by the Parliament by mid-2017.
“Universities Australia has long advocated the appointment of an expert advisory panel to provide independent advice on the future of Australian higher education,” said UA Chief Executive Belinda Robinson.
“Despite a tight timeframe, the depth of expertise on the panel and within the sector should assist in crafting a reform package that can be supported by both major parties.”
“Achieving bipartisan support for a design that is financially sustainable, ensures affordability for students and taxpayers, assures quality and innovation, and better targets student support should be a key goal,” Ms Robinson said.
The panel members are:
- Dr Michele Allan – Director of CSIRO, Chair of Meat & Livestock Australia and Chancellor of Charles Sturt University;
- Professor Peter Noonan – Mitchell Professorial Fellow at Victoria University and Member of the Expert Panel for the Review of Australian Higher Education (Bradley Review);
- Andrew Norton – Grattan Institute Higher Education Program Director and co-author of the Review of the Demand Driven Funding System; and
- Professor Sally Walker – Principal at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and former Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University.
“Australia’s world-class university system produces highly-skilled graduates to meet the workforce needs of the economy and sustains Australia’s third largest export sector. It is a vital part of Australia’s innovation infrastructure,” Ms Robinson said.
“Universities Australia congratulates all members of the panel. We look forward to working with them to ensure our higher education system delivers on the expectations of students, employers and the broader community, and positions Australia for long-term economic and social prosperity.”
