Briefing Papers

The Government is providing $500 million in 2007-08 for higher education institutions to undertake capital projects to support improved teaching and learning, research and students' overall higher education experience. Priority areas will be information and communications technology, laboratories, libraries and student study spaces, teaching spaces and student amenities (Higher Education 2020 Newsletter, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace relations (DEEWR), Issue 2, May 2008).

A report card on the higher education policies of the Coalition and Labor parties released by university staff and students on Tuesday has failed the Howard Government for its record on universities.

The report card, prepared by National Tertiary Education Union, the National Union of Students and the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, awarded Labor a pass on the basis of the well targeted but limited commitments announced during the campaign and its stated commitment to build on these in office.

July 1st 2007 marks VSU "one-year-on". CAPA has completed its survey: The Impact of VSU on Postgraduate Students. The final report is now available:

Key findings:

As of July 1, 2007 at least 8 universities no longer have an independent postgraduate student organisation. Of the 20 Postgraduate students associations that responded to CAPA's 2007 questionnaire:

- 8 are receiving less than 50% of their pre-VSU funding, including 4 that are receiving less than 5%.
- While 70% have some funding support from their university, many have conditions attached including some that

On the 15th of November 2006, the Minister for Education, Science and Training announced that the RQF would go ahead. The Minister also endorsed the RQF model recommended by the Development Advisory Group (DAG). Below is a summary of key recommendations from the approved model. Included also are some conclusions on what this might mean for postgraduate students.

For further detailed discussion and background on issues pertaining to the RQF, please refer to the CAPA submissions and briefings.

The complete briefing paper is available in the PDF below:

This briefing paper provides a background to the RQF, outlines the stages in the development process, and highlights particular issues for postgraduates. For a comprehensive discussion of the issues, please refer to the CAPA submissions:

- Research Quality Framework: Response to the Issues Paper (May 2005)
- Response to the Research Quality Framework Preferred Model (Oct 2005)

These are available on the CAPA website

The DEST RQF website:
http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/research_sector/policies_issues_reviews/key_iss
ues/research_quality_framework/default.htm

The higher education sector's low expectations of the 2005 Federal Budget were fulfilled last night with the release of a budget that largely ignores universities. In anticipation of this, many key stakeholders such as the NTEU and AVCC did not bother to attend parliament for its release.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations is the peak body representing Australia's 247,315 postgraduate students. CAPA believes in free, accessible education which allows everyone to reach their full intellectual potential. We believe education is a right, not a privilege.

On Thursday 6th May 2004 the government announced Backing Australia's Ability II (BAA II), a science and innovation funding and policy package extending on the similar 2001 package, Backing Australia's Ability. The original package was due to expire in 2005, and the new package extends many of the original programs within Backing Australia's Ability to 2011, as well as adding a number of new programs.

On 24th March the Minister for Education, Brendan Nelson, released three reports on research and research education. The reports drew on a series of reviews held in 2003. The reports make recommendations only - a full research and research education funding policy package is expected to be handed down with the Federal budget on May 11.

CAPA's 2004 Policy on International Students identifies a number of issues of concern to CAPA's international student affiliates, including:

- the systemic discrimination of DIMIA's five tiered assessment system, including irrational language requirements imposed by the system;
- the cost of study visas and work permits in Australia, and postgraduation work opportunities, and
- the cost of public primary and secondary education for the dependants of international students.

This background paper provides basic information on these issues as well

This document is a revision of CAPA's 1997 Statement of Minimum Resources. Both the 1997 document, and this revision, reflect the belief stated in CAPA standing policy that "the provision of adequate levels of resources is vital to the effective delivery of postgraduate programs across all modes of study."

In 1990 DEET designated six equity groups, including students from rural and isolated areas, for targeted action to increase these students' access to tertiary education. The strategies, set out in the policy paper A Fair Chance for All, were focused heavily on improving distance education as a means of raising higher education participation for rural and isolated students.

In August, the Department of Education, Science and Training announced its long-awaited review of the policy package Knowledge and Innovation, which incorporates the Research Training Scheme (RTS). This Briefing Paper is intended to assist CAPA constituents who wish to make a submission to the review, but may not be familiar with the background and details of the RTS. The inquiry's terms of reference are included at the back of this document, followed by a brief list of web resources.

Background

The ALP's TAFE and higher education policy package, Aim Higher, was released this morning. Aim Higher is primarily useful to CAPA activists as it makes clear which elements of the government's Backing Australia's Future package it is ALP policy to oppose. The news here is good, with the ALP opposing most elements of the federal package of primary concern to CAPA.