NTEU welcomes report on private university
7 February 2002
The Review of Melbourne University Private and the Ministerial Response to the Review were today welcomed by the National Tertiary Education Union.
NTEU President, Dr Carolyn Allport, said that the review’s findings concerning importance of research were critical, and reflected national standards agreed since MUP was first operating.
“The consultant has offered the Government a range of responses to his findings. The most appropriate response is that the Ministerial Order under which MUP operates should be amended to reflect the National Protocols agreed in 2000. This would ensure that other important matters such as free inquiry were enshrined as essential if MUP is to continue to operate under its current title.”
“It is now likely that MUP will be reconfigured as a commercial arm of the public university, but this does not mean that the issues have gone away. Universities are not businesses, but many do have commercial operations. It is important to ensure that the commercial interest of universities do not conflict with their traditional role.”
Dr Allport said that the issue now before the Victorian Government is how to appropriately regulate university commercial activities.
“The commercial activities of universities can affect the reputation of the university as much as traditional activities can. The New South Wales Government recognised this in recently passing laws to ensure proper accountability for university commercial activities. We strongly suggest that the Victorian Government follow the New South Wales example, to ensure proper regulation of university controlled entities.” Dr Allport concluded.