IHEA Submission on Tertiary Education Commission as per Australian Universities Accord Interim Report

Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA) has provided a specific submission on the establishment of a Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) as per the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report. 

IHEA makes this proposal as a resource for the Australian Universities Accord Panel and Minister Clare's deliberation re TEC.

We present this submission not as an outright endorsement or recommendation, but as a potential blueprint should the panel decide to proceed with the TEC's creation.

We assert that the mere establishment of a TEC will not lead to reform; instead, it is essential for any newly formed TEC to be imbued with a reform-minded approach from its inception.

IHEA's submission aims to enrich the panel's work, offering alternatives to avoid the creation of a TEC that might merely duplicate existing bureaucratic processes or postpone necessary reforms.

Our submission explores three critical areas for consideration:

1. The purpose of the TEC.
2. The composition of the TEC.
3. The relationship of the TEC with existing bodies.

Thank you to IHEA members who provided feedback on this submission.

This was submitted on 13 October 2023 *

* Public access of our submission was embargoed until 19 October 2023 to respect the deliberations of the Australian Universities Accord Panel and Minister Clare.