TEQSA to seek student advice in 'significant shift' for university sector

Australia’s university watchdog has handed given students a seat at the table, marking a dramatic shift in how the sector is monitored and controlled.

TEQSA chief executive Mary Russell has announced reforms to the university regulator.

Students will join the federal government’s university watchdog, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, for the first time to voice concerns on­ ­issues from safety to teaching quality and cheating.

Revealing cuts to regulatory red tape on Wednesday, TEQSA chief executive Mary Russell announced a new student advisory panel “to assist TEQSA to see the sector through the eyes of students’’. “Students often feel the impact of sector risks first, in their classrooms, in their interactions, and in their confidence, long before they appear in data or reports,’’ she told a TEQSA conference in Melbourne.

“Seeing the sector through the eyes of students gives us early warning of where risk sits and where improvement is needed.

“When governance or integrity falter, the consequences are first felt by students – in their experience, in their confidence and in the credibility and reputation of their qualifications.” TEQSA’s decision to formally consult with students came as federal Education Minister Jason Clare called for a “greater focus on teaching’’ in universities.

He warned delegates they “can expect to hear some pretty awful things’’ from an upcoming report by the Race Discrimination ­Commissioner, based on a survey of 76,000 university staff and ­students.

Dr Russell said TEQSA would liaise with the National Student Ombudsman, which has fielded 2400 complaints since its creation in February. The ombudsman’s inaugural annual report shows that 71 per cent of complaints involved course administration, teaching and learning, and misconduct matters.

Tuition fees, discrimination, racism and inadequate support made up the rest of complaints.

“It is clear … that many higher education students face particularly challenging circumstances as they seek to balance the competing demands of study with those of work, family responsibilities, and the cost of living,’’ Student Ombudsman Iain Anderson said in the report.

The first assistant ombudsman, Sarah Bendall, said nearly half the complaints related to “back-of-house student services’’.

“These seemingly small ­administrative issues are having a big impact on students’ lives,’’ she said.

“Misinformation and miscommunication from providers about course requirements often result in delays to course completion and entry into the workforce, or cost students significant additional expense.’’

Dr Russell said the student advisory panel was part of a “significant shift’’ for TEQSA to detect systemic problems across the university sector.

She said TEQSA had been “largely reactive’’ in dealing with complaints, instead of proactively ensuring compliance.

“We are rebalancing our regulatory approach to increase our focus on sector-wide risks, issues that cross institutional boundaries and, if unmanaged, can cause harm and undermine confidence in the sector,’’ she said.