The federal government must back the Universities Accord

Charles Darwin University vice-chancellor Scott Bowman. Picture: Sierra Haigh

I became a vice-chancellor in 2009 about a year after the Bradley Review. That review has dominated my professional life since then. I was lucky to take up position just as we moved to a demand-led system, a sector that recognised the importance of equity groups. Under Bradley, regional universities flourished albeit remaining impoverished compared to metropolitan cousins.

Now we have the Universities Accord. Will a vice-chancellor starting today be impacted in the same way that I was by Bradley? I think the answer is yes, but only if the federal government is willing to back it like it did Bradley.

The Accord is ambitious and far ranging. There is a lot to celebrate. A lot to benefit students, their future employers, universities, vocational education, and research institutes. The Accord has potential to be another game-changer for regional universities. It also makes important recommendations for research and vocational education.

Needs-based funding, more medical places for regional universities, expansion of the Study Hubs, changes to Territory Access Payment and the appointment of a Regional Commissioner all argues well for regional Australians and their communities.

I feel that Charles Darwin University was listened to during the Accord process. I see that our three big ideas have been picked up in the Accord.

Firstly, it advocates to genuinely engage with First Nations knowledges in research and curricula. Also, the call to create a culturally safe environment for First Nation students in training, education, and research. This is of the utmost importance for all universities but particularly so for CDU which services a population made up of 30 per cent First Nations people.

Secondly, it aims to address the funding flaws of the universities model and to properly recognise CDU’s contribution to the NT and its people. I would argue that CDU is not a regional university, it is a remote university serving a relatively low population spread out over a vast area.

The cost base for all regional universities is high but for a remote university it is massive. Hopefully this will now be recognised in the funding model. There is much work to be done to define what is meant by needs-based funding and the capacity for a new Australian Tertiary Education Commission to move towards mission-based funding.

This work needs to look at how regional universities provide a backbone of infrastructure and human capital in places far-flung from east coast capitals. If done properly this will reset the course for regional Australia. We’re willing to help.

Thirdly, the Accord also seeks to develop a ‘one tertiary’ system – the fruition of a Bradley promise. But we still have a long way to go. Australia’s six dual sector universities have demonstrated the benefits of having degree and vocational education jointly delivered.

It is time that Australia moved from higher and vocational education to simply education. The Accord seeks to take us down that path. Minister Clare’s work back into early childhood and school education is also critical. Tertiary education success will only be achieved where school leavers are ready and engaged. We know we have our bit to do too – ensuring we continue to drive quality and student experience.

Do I have any reservations about the Accord? To be honest not many, and only in terms of implementation. Much of the work of implementation is being referred to commissions and commissioners. These will need to be established. The time frames for many of the changes are very long, whereas we need change now.

Sixteen years on, the Accord faces the same question as Bradley. Will the government get behind it and fund it? They did with Bradley, and we saw a profound change for the better in tertiary education. I urge the government to do the same for the Accord.

Emeritus Professor Scott Bowman AO is vice-chancellor and president of Charles Darwin University.