2023 recap: Latest rundown of higher education

Our Chief Executive Catriona Jackson's message

In my seven and a half years at UA, you have heard me say many times what a privilege it is, every day, to represent our great sector. This was true on my first day in the job, and it is true on my last. 

I love universities and all that they do for our communities, for the nation and for the world more broadly. Skill shortages, economic challenges and geopolitical uncertainties are serving as increasing reminders that what we do through education and research is becoming more important every day. 

To have had the opportunity, with your support, to prosecute this argument with government and in the public sphere has been a career highlight and one I will cherish. 

I have always maintained that part of representing the sector is promoting good public policy. And by that, I mean public policy that is coherent and consistent, that attacks a clearly defined problem or opportunity, that is forward looking and lays out a vision beyond tomorrow – just like our universities. 

To that end, there is much to look back on this year and celebrate. I won’t go into the detail here, but we have included a summary of UA’s major achievements in 2023 below. 

The Australian Universities Accord has, of course, dominated our landscape for much of this year. Even though we are yet to see the final report, we have secured some big wins through the interim report. 

Uncapped places for Indigenous students, an end of the 50 per cent pass rule introduced under the Job-ready Graduates package and transition funding arrangements are all considerable actions that will assist us to continue doing our job for the nation, and UA advocated strongly for these on your behalf. I will be watching closely next year for the final report and government’s response. 

Universities are part of the national fabric, and UA has worked hard this year to increase public recognition of that fact, with much more to come next year. 

Building on this work in 2024, UA will continue to be guided by the knowledge that our universities help make Australia safe, strong and successful and we must maintain a close working relationship with government in the delivery of national priorities. 

I want to thank all the members, led by the four chairs I have been lucky to serve alongside, Margaret Gardner , Professor Deborah Terry , John Dewar and David Lloyd , alongside UA Board members. All of you serve the sector, while running major institutions, and play a big role in keeping our sector strong and able to deliver for the nation.  

And to the UA team, who serve you so loyally day in day out, go my heartfelt thanks. The sector is very fortunate to have a group of highly talented, intelligent hard-working individuals prosecuting the case for the sector. 

I would like to join you in welcoming Luke Sheehy as incoming UA Chief Executive, starting 7 February 2024. He has been working at the heart of the sector, in various roles, for most of his working life, and is a powerful advocate. 

I am very pleased to able to leave you in the very capable hands of Deputy Chief Executive Renee Hindmarsh , who will act as Chief Executive until then. 

I wish all of you the very best for the festive season and hope you enjoy a much-deserved break ahead of what will be another big year for higher education in 2024. 

Catriona Jackson 

Chief Executive, Universities Australia 

2023 RECAP 

POLICY WINS 

UA, on behalf of members, successfully advocated for various policy changes in 2023, including: 

• the inclusion of microcredentials in FEE-HELP. 
• an end to the 50 per cent pass rule under JRG. 
• the extension of transition funding for universities to provide security of funding while funding changes are made through the Accord. 
• demand-driven places for all Indigenous students, regardless of their location. 
• new measures to strengthen the integrity of the international education sector and provide greater protection for students navigating the system. 
• a number of measures in the government’s migration strategy which align with our advocacy positions. 
• more clinical placements, post-graduate scholarships and greater support for mental health education/training for health professional students. 
• major reforms to the Australian Research Council that will support and strengthen our research system into the future. 

MAJOR SUBMISSIONS 

• Submission to the 2023 Review of the Defence Trade Controls Act 2023 
• Response to Australia’s Draft National Science and Research Priorities 
• Submission to the Support for Students Policy Guidelines Consultation Paper 
• Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report 

• Response to the Australian Universities Accord Panel Discussion Paper 

All UA submissions are available on our website. 

MAJOR INITIATIVES 

• Released the Universities Australia Charter on Sexual Harm, along with several other major initiatives to boost safety and wellbeing efforts at universities. 
• Renewed an MoU with the Association of Indian Universities and committed to working collaboratively to deepen ties between the two countries. 
• Established and held two iterations of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-University `Forum, a mechanism to connect the university sector and government on issues related to foreign policy and security. 
• Negotiated a new agreement with Screenrights to take effect from 1 January 2024. 
• Released the first annual Indigenous Strategy survey report under the 2022-25 Indigenous Strategy. 
• Finalised the updated National Higher Education Work-integrated Learning Strategy, in consultation with industry partners. 

PARLIAMENTARY, GOVERNMENT UPDATES 

• The Senate has referred an inquiry into right wing extremist movements in Australia to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 6 December 2024. UA has been invited to make a submission by April 2024 and universities will likely be an area of focus for the Committee. 

GRANTS, FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES 

• Trance 3 of the pilot-scale grants programs of Australia’s Economic Accelerator is now open (closes 9 February 2024). 

• Nominations are now open for the 2024 Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science (closes 8 February 2024). 
• Round 2 of the Microcredentials Pilot in Higher Education is now open (closes 1 March 2024). 

CHIEF ECONOMIST’S UPDATE 

Department of Education data released this week confirmed that 2022 was a weak year for headcount enrolments and EFTSL load. 

The department’s numbers for UA members do not match general estimates of higher education activity, provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics from surveys. In particular, the trend for UA members is much stronger than the ABS data. The ABS data generally receives more attention because it is released in a timelier fashion. 

MEDIA UPDATE 

Our media activity over the last fortnight has generated 236 media items with a potential audience reach of more than 12.4 million people across online, print, radio and television platforms.  

• International education policy settings must look to our future (22 December 2023) 
• Universities Australia appoints new Chief Executive (19 December 2023) 
• Skilling up Australians in areas of national priority (15 December 2023) 
• Universities key to our economy (13 December 2023) 
• A migration system for the future (11 December 2023) 

SUBMISSIONS 

UPCOMING SUBMISSIONS 

• Review of the Higher Education Threshold Standards and the higher education regulatory framework in relation to student support (15 January 2024) 
• 2024-25 pre-budget submission (25 January 2024) 
• Senate inquiry into the Australian Research Council Amendment (Review Response) Bill 2023 (due 19 January 2024) 
• Senate Inquiry into the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023 (1 February 2024) 
• Response to the Productivity Commission’s draft philanthropy report (9 February 2024) 

SUBMISSIONS SINCE LAST UPDATE 

• UA response to the consultation on the draft Action Plan addressing gender-based violence in higher education (31 January 2024) 
• Input into the 2024-25 Jobs and Skills Australia work plan (22 December 2023) 
• National Nursing Workforce Strategy Stage One Consultation (21 December 2023) 
• Developing a Not-for-Profit Sector Development Blueprint (20 December 2023) 
• Australia’s 2024-25 Permanent Migration Program (15 December 2023) 

OLDER SUBMISSIONS 

• Response to the Defence Trade Controls Amendment Bill 2023 (17 November 2023) 
• Response to the Proposed Amendments to the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (3 November 2023) 
• Response to DOHAC’s GP attraction strategy – discussion framework (3 November 2023) 
• Response to the Review of the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 (3 November 2023) 
• Response to the Productivity Commission’s Closing the Gap review (30 October 2023) 
• Feedback to the Digital Health Capability Framework and Guideline (23 October 2023) 
• Submission to TEQSA’s consultation paper on Assessment reform for the age of artificial intelligence (20 October 2023) 
• Submission to the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of practice review (16 October 2023) 
• Response to the Suburban University Study Hubs Consultation Paper (2 October 2023) 
• Response to the draft National Science and Research Priorities (29 September 2023) 
• Response to TEQSA’s cost recovery and service agreement amendments (25 September 2023) 
• Response on the Support for Students Policy Guidelines consultation paper (15 September 2023) 
• Submission to the Government’s Diversity in STEM Review: draft recommendations (8 September 2023) 
• Submission to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report – Submission 3 (1 September 2023) 

View all submissions on the UA website. 

EVENTS 

• Universities Australia Solutions Summit 2024 (27-28 February 2024) 
• Shaping Australia Awards (27 February 2024)