The Morrison Government is cutting red tape to simplify Australia's higher education system.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said today the Government had accepted all 10 recommendations made in the Review of Australia's Higher Education Provider Category Standards by Emeritus Professor Peter Coaldrake AO.
The review recommended:
- Reducing the number of higher education provider categories from six to four.
- Adding greater differentiation among the large majority of private providers.
- Creating a new category of teaching intensive, high performing higher education providers.
- Greater regulatory transparency to facilitate new entrants into higher education and progression to various levels of oversight and self-accreditation.
"The reforms to the Provider Category Standards will ensure the regulation of our higher education sector continues to deliver for students, industry and the community," Mr Tehan said.
"These changes will support the innovation, aspiration and quality the sector needs to keep producing high-quality graduates and world-class research.
"The Government accepted the recommendation to create a new category for the highest performing non-university providers. In response to stakeholder feedback, the new category will be called 'University-Colleges' to reflect international standards.
"I have asked the Higher Education Standards Panel to provide advice on the amendments required to the Provider Category Standards to implement these recommendations, including the new research benchmarks for universities.
"We'll continue to consult closely with the sector and the regulators to ensure a smooth transition to the new Standards."
