Over-reviewed and Underfunded? The evolving policy context of Australian higher education research and development

Abstract

Major restructuring to the Australian higher education sector was initiated in 1988 with the dismantling of the previous binary system and the introduction of the uni ed national system. Since this time the sector has been the subject of continuous review by government and the policy and funding framework for higher education research in particular has undergone a number of changes. After providing contextual information regarding Australia and its R&D effort, this paper examines a number of major reviews that have impacted on the higher education sector. Particular attention is directed to identifying changes in both policy and funding environment. It is argued that the crisis facing Australian universities is the result of not only inadequate funding but also an over-reliance by government on the market steering of the sector.· The new arrangements will promote greater diversity in higher education rather than any arti cial equalisation of institutional roles Downloaded by [Harvard Library] at 01:

Occupational stress, ill health and organisational commitment of employees at a university of technology

“…Universities and colleges of education have undergone restructuring in many other countries, such as Canada, Australia, Russia, China and the United States of America, and in Great Britain (Blackmore, 2002;Curri, 2002;Finkelstein, 2003;Gumport, 2000;Mok, 2003;Wood & Meek, 2002). Several reasons have been suggested as to why higher education institutions had no choice but to undergo a process of restructuring, namely, governments' diminishing ability to subsidise education; restructuring of global capitalism and the emergence of neo-liberal macro-economics (Kraak, 2004;Manicas, 1998;Mok, 2003;Woodard, 1997); technological advances that have increased the demand for distance teaching (Mok, 2003); and socio-political changes in countries that have triggered the restructuring of their government institutions, including higher education (Finkelstein, 2003;Mok, 2003).…”

Globalisation and the Changing Functions of Australian Universities

“…In principle, this gave all institutions equal access to federal student-based and research funding. However, to paraphrase Wood and Meek (2002) 'unified does not mean uniform'. Seven or eight established metropolitan, highly 'research intensive' universities dominate the system, while a dozen or so more possess significant but narrower research strengths (Garrett-Jones et al, 2000).…”

Of what benefit and to whom? Linking Australian humanities research with its ‘end users’

“…non-government) financial support for their research programmes (Kirkland, 2008;Lazarevski, Irvine & Dolnicar, 2008). In particular, research funding that has been secured as part of a competitive, peer-reviewed process carries with it an elite status (Berman, 2008;Marinova & Newman, 2008;Wood & Meek, 2002). Various arguments have been promoted as to the benefits of creating a culture of entrepreneurship in universities.…”