The report of the Review of Higher Education Regulation is a valuable assessment of the role of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and its relations with other bodies.

The report lays down an excellent basis for the next Government. The framework provides a sound basis for ensuring the essential quality of each higher education provider while encouraging universities and other providers to continue developing the nature of higher education.

“The report makes clear that the legislative framework has pushed TEQSA into difficult positions but also that the relationships across the various bodies involved must be better” said Professor Barney Glover, Vice-Chancellor of Charles Darwin University and Chair, Innovative Research Universities.

“Professor Lee Dow and Professor Braithwaite propose that TEQSA focus at the registration and course accreditation roles that are the heart of its responsibility and explicitly work in partnership with other bodies and providers. These actions will produce a regulatory system consistent with the initial plans for TEQSA.”

“A TEQSA that concentrates on the big picture will be much more effective, letting universities and other bodies identify and counter minor issues and work on improving higher education” Professor Glover commented.

“The IRU also supports a thorough analysis of the issues needing regulation and the best location for these across the various Acts relevant to universities” Professor Glover concluded.