COALITION STILL WANTS TO MANAGE OUR UNIVERSITIES
March 13, 2008
The NTEU is surprised to hear that the Coalition wants to continue interfering in university autonomy and independence by insisting the Government keep funding conditional on meeting the previous Government’s controversial National Governance Protocols (NGP).
“The Coalition still fails to understand that institutional autonomy together with academic freedom are two of the essential defining characteristics of universities around the world,”
“While the Coalition sees higher education as little more than a market in which universities compete for students, the NTEU believes that our public universities are important institutions that deliver substantial public benefits to the Australian economy and its communities.”
“Universities must be allowed to choose the size and the composition of their governing bodies including the capacity for staff and students.”
The NGPs made 7.5% of
“While in government the Coalition continually argued
“If we want a diverse university sector, then universities must be free to determine their own mission and values and serve their different communities. The NTEU urges the Coalition to reconsider its opposition to the Government’s amendments to HESA”, Mr Kniest concluded.
For more information or comment contact: