There is increasing alarm over the lack of progress around sexual harassment and assault on Australian university campuses. Much of the focus so far has been on students but staff are also at risk.
One of the headline ideas floated by the Universities Accord is a second national university for regional students. This would be on top of the existing Australian National University.
The Universities Accord draft report says universities have an ‘obligation to students to foster belonging’. It also notes ‘too few’ Australians are completing their degrees.
Overhanging the whole accord debate is the question of increasing public funding for universities and academic research in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
The Universities Accord wants to make sure ‘talented people’ do not miss out on getting ‘life-changing qualifications’. This is where enabling programs can help.
From commerce to public policy, cuts to New Zealand’s university humanities departments will have repercussions well beyond the so-called ‘ivory towers’.
The Universities Accord review wants universities and vocational education providers to collaborate more. It talks of ‘seamless’ transitions for students.
When universities do use fair dealing to supplement purchased, licensed and freely available resources, they work within guidelines developed across the education sector.
Campuses struggle to take action on commitments to promote health. Universities need to work towards meaningful measures of progress and well-resourced approaches.