Maintaining Quality Standards

in a Commercialised Market

University Governance and Regulations Forum

17 September 2014

Andrew Parkin

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)

Disclaimer:

The perspective presented in this presentation is that of the

presenter and should not be attributed to Flinders University

Five propositions about the recent and emerging

Australian higher education environment

Proposition 1:

The Australian HE system is entering an

unprecedented era of intensified competition.

Proposition 1:

The Australian HE system is entering an

unprecedented era of intensified competition.

Proposition 2:

The current numerically uncapped but price-rigid

system has induced a ‘race to the bottom’.

Proposition 2:

The current numerically uncapped but price-rigid

system has induced a ‘race to the bottom’.

Proposition 2:

The current numerically uncapped but price-rigid

system has induced a ‘race to the bottom’.

Proposition 3:

Deregulating price and provider status will induce

higher quality.

Proposition 3:

Deregulating price and provider status will induce

higher quality.

Proposition 3:

Deregulating price and provider status will induce

higher quality.

Proposition 4:

The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

Proposition 4:

The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

Proposition 4:

The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

Proposition 4:

The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

Proposition 5:

The proposed relaxation of AQF compliance in the

threshold standards signals a more sensible quality

assurance regime.

Proposition 5:

The proposed relaxation of AQF compliance in the

threshold standards signals a more sensible quality

assurance regime.

Proposition 5:

The proposed relaxation of AQF compliance in the

threshold standards signals a more sensible quality

assurance regime.

The five propositions …

1. The Australian HE system is entering an

unprecedented era of intensified competition.

2. Deregulating price and provider status will induce

higher quality.

3. The current numerically uncapped but price-rigid

system has induced a ‘race to the bottom’.

4. The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

5. The proposed relaxation of AQF compliance in the

threshold standards signals a more sensible quality

assurance regime.

The five propositions …

1. The Australian HE system is entering an

unprecedented era of intensified competition.

2. Deregulating price and provider status will induce

higher quality.

3. The current numerically uncapped but price-rigid

system has induced a ‘race to the bottom’.

4. The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

5. The proposed relaxation of AQF compliance in the

threshold standards signals a more sensible quality

assurance regime.

Proposition 1:

The Australian HE system is entering an

unprecedented era of intensified competition.

Proposition 1:

The Australian HE system is entering an

unprecedented era of intensified competition.

• Intense competition is not new

Proposition 1:

The Australian HE system is entering an

unprecedented era of intensified competition.

• Competition has long been based on such

factors as:

– reputation/brand

– institutional academic/course profile

– geographical accessibility

– admission pathway accessibility

– capacity constraints on admission numbers

– personal connections (e.g. alumni, friends)

Proposition 1:

The Australian HE system is entering an

unprecedented era of intensified competition.

• Competition has long been based on such

factors as:

– reputation/brand

– institutional academic/course profile

– geographical accessibility

– admission pathway accessibility

– capacity constraints on admission numbers

– personal connections (e.g. alumni, friends)

– price? How much difference will this one

additional factor make?

Proposition 2:

The current numerically uncapped but price-rigid

system has induced a ‘race to the bottom’.

Proposition 2:

The current numerically uncapped but price-rigid

system has induced a ‘race to the bottom’.

• Not so in SA.

Proposition 2:

The current numerically uncapped but price-rigid

system has induced a ‘race to the bottom’.

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

76

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

5500

6000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Wei

gh

ted

Ave

rag

e A

TAR

Cu

t-o

ff

Co

mm

enci

ng

En

rolm

ents

Year

Weighted Average ATAR Cut-offs and Commencing Enrolments for Bachelor Pass and Direct Hons Courses

2008-2014

CommencingEnrolments

ATAR Cut-off

Proposition 3:

Deregulating price and provider status will induce

higher quality.

Proposition 3:

Deregulating price and provider status will induce

higher quality.

Proposition 3:

Deregulating price and provider status will induce

higher quality.

Proposition 3:

Deregulating price and provider status will induce

higher quality.

Proposition 4:

The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

Proposition 4:

The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

Proposition 4:

The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

Proposition 4:

The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

How to tell TEQSA that you have a library:

(Flinders University re-registration submission 2012)

Proposition 4:

The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

Proposition 5:

The proposed relaxation of AQF compliance in the

threshold standards signals a more sensible quality

assurance regime.

Proposition 5:

The proposed relaxation of AQF compliance in the

threshold standards signals a more sensible quality

assurance regime.

The five propositions …

1. The Australian HE system is entering an

unprecedented era of intensified competition.

2. Deregulating price and provider status will induce

higher quality.

3. The current numerically uncapped but price-rigid

system has induced a ‘race to the bottom’.

4. The winding back of TEQSA’s regulatory regime will

facilitate innovation and higher quality.

5. The proposed relaxation of AQF compliance in the

threshold standards signals a more sensible quality

assurance regime.