There will little change in policy on national investment in higher education and research without a new national consensus on strategies for structural reform and for continuously improving outcomes in both the quantitative and qualitative senses. Likewise the issue of standards is crucial for domestic students and employers and for Australia’s reputation in the global teaching market. Looking beyond quality assurance mechanisms, this seminar focuses on strategies for improvement and on indicators of transparent outputs. How can we lift performance and what are the potentials and utilities (and limits) of output measures? How should we assess economic productivity? How can tertiary education augment social inclusion, including Indigenous access and success? What are the best means of assessing and comparing learning outcomes and value added, teaching quality, student engagement, and graduate attributes and employability? How might we use measures of research outcomes and research rankings? How can we evaluate knowledge transfer and the contribution of tertiary institutions to communities and regions?

Professor Geoff Masters, CEO of the Australian Council for Educational Research, is a widely published expert in the field of educational assessment. In addition to his many contributions to Australian education systems he is a consultant to school systems and examinations agencies in North America and Southeast Asia.

Professor Richard James is Director of the Centre for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne. His research program involves both theoretical and practical investigations in contemporary higher education issues. Among his recent work are papers on equity, student finances and indigenous education

The session will be chaired by Peter Noonan, panel member of the Australian Higher Education Review.

Light refreshments will be available in the Woodward Centre from 6.00pm – 6.30pm, followed by presentations from the speakers, and a period of discussion and audience participation.

Registration and further information:
The seminars are expected to attract considerable interest and pre-registration is essential. To register and for information about the seminar series, speakers, parking arrangements and maps visit the Investing in the Future website

Inquiries:
Michelle Segal
Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE)
mjsegal@unimelb.edu.au
(03) 8344 4604

Location:
The Woodward Conference Centre
Melbourne Law School, Level 10
185 Pelham Street,
Carlton, 3053

Coordinated by the Centre for the Study of Higher Education and the LH Martin Institute for Higher Education and Management