Gillard announces new higher education review

Education Minister Julia Gillard has announced a new review into Australia’s higher education system in a speech in Sydney this morning.

To be chaired by the former vice-chancellor of the University of South Australia, Denise Bradley, the wide-ranging review will consider how to:

• Create a diverse set of high performing, globally-focused higher education institutions.
• Improve the sector’s contribution to increased economic productivity and labour market participation.
• Improve funding arrangements.
• Widen access to higher education and improve student support programs so as to promote social inclusion and individual opportunity.

“Long-term improvements of the scale needed to make a major contribution to economic productivity and prosperity will require a new strategy based on a thorough reassessment of the system as a whole,” Gillard said.

Education consultant Peter Noonan, Macquarie Bank, Origin Energy, Freehills director Helen Nugent, and Swinburne University Chancellor Bill Scales will also sit on the review.

The review will provide a report on priority action by the end of October and a final report by the end of 2008, Gillard said.