Students and staff deserve a say in how universities make decisions that affect them.
The Carroll Labor Government is giving students and staff that stronger voice.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills and Training Gabrielle Williams today announced the government will change the law to increase the minimum number of elected staff and student representatives on university councils to at least two staff and two students.
This implements a key recommendation of the Parliamentary Inquiry into enhancing Victorian university governance delivered by the Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee.
The Government also supports the Expert Council on University Governance principles, and in line with the inquiry report will work with universities to improve public understanding of appointment processes.
In doing so, we will ensure consistency with the Victorian Government’s Appointment and Remuneration Guidelines and consider the perspectives and representation of Victoria’s First Peoples.
The Government supports the committee’s findings on transparency. That means publishing council agendas and meeting outcomes. It means more detail on consultancy spending and remuneration.
In finalising its formal response to the report in the next term, Victoria will coordinate with the Commonwealth’s regulation of higher education to avoid unnecessary duplication.
The Government welcomes recent changes to national higher education standards committed to lifting transparency and requiring stronger governance, as well as ensuring that councils contain the quality expertise that is necessary to manage organisations as large and complex as universities.
In the next term, the Government will introduce legislation into Parliament to amend the university enabling Acts. Additionally, Victoria encourages universities to adopt a proactive approach to elevate staff and student voices.
The final Parliamentary Inquiry report can be accessed here.
As stated by Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills and Training Gabrielle Williams
“University is a formative time in a student’s life where they choose a path to learn something new and build a better future for themselves and their community.”
“The students and staff who make our world-class universities what they are should have a say in how they are run.”
As stated by Chair of the Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee Alison Marchant
“The committee heard that universities should serve the community in a more meaningful way. Students and staff should have a seat at the table. These reforms deliver on that.”
