Presentation by NCSEHE Adjunct Fellow Matt Brett (Deakin University) for the Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA) - May 2019.

1. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Matt Brett
Director Academic Governance and Standards
Equity and Inclusion in
Independent Higher Education
IHEA May, 2019

2. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
1. What is Independent Higher Ed?
2. What lies ahead given the policy context?
3. Why equity matters for Independent Higher Ed?
4. How does “Independent” Higher Ed perform on equity?
5. Discussion
Key Questions
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3. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Conventional segmentation of Australian higher education
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UNIVERSITY NOT UNIVERSITY

4. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Reality is more dynamic
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PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY
INDEPENDENT
PRIVATE
NON-UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
HIGHER EDUCATION

5. Third
Party
Partner
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
And reality is much much more complex
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PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY
NOT PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
Dept
Hospital
Faculty
WIL
Schools
Private
Provider
TAFE
RTO
Private
University
RTO
RTO
Private
Provider

6. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Does standard segmentation result from or drive asymmetry?
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PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY
INDEPENDENT
PRIVATE
NON-UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY
HIGHER EDUCATION
Performance Data ✓
Public Subsidy ✓
Income Contingent Loans ✓
Public Reporting ✓
What data?
What subsidies?
HECS / FEE HELP?
Transparency?

7. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Does a Unified National System of public
universities still make sense?
What is independent higher education?
You tell me:
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8. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Pre-election policy backlog
- Provider Category Standards
- Performance Based Funding
- Australian Qualifications Framework
- Contract Cheating Legislation
- Regional Rural Remote Framework
- CSP Reallocation
Do public / independent distinctions matter?
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9. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Pre-election policy backlog
- Provider Category Standards
- Performance Based Funding
- Australian Qualifications Framework
- Contract Cheating Legislation
- Regional Rural Remote Framework
- CSP Reallocation
Do public / independent distinctions matter?
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On what basis can independent
higher education make credible
claims for access to more favorable
policy treatment?

10. Third
Party
Partner
Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Equity, quality and trust are key …. But what do we know?
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PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY
NOT PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
Dept
Hospital
Faculty
WIL
Schools
Private
Provider
TAFE
RTO
Private
University
RTO
RTO
Private
Provider
Significant Gap in Equity Knowledge
Memories of VET FEE-HELP

11. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Where is the research into independent higher education?
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12. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Where is the research into independent higher education?
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Over 800 hits for ‘university’

13. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Where is the equity data on independent higher education?
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14. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Higher Education Standards
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15. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Public Financing – FEE-HELP
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16. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
NCSEHE Reports Referencing Independent Provision
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17. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Does equity matter in independent higher
education?
You tell me:
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18. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Enrolments growing fast beyond the public university
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DOMESTIC ENROLMENTS
2012 2017
CHANGE
2012-2017NO.
% OF
TOTAL
NO.
% OF
TOTAL
Table A providers 874,700 93.6% 999,987 92.4%
+125,287
(+14.3%)
Table B, Table C and Non-
University Higher
Education Institutions
(NUHEIs)
59,410 6.4% 81,958 7.6%
+22,548
(+38.0%)
TOTAL 934,100 100% 1,081,945 100%
+147,835
(+15.8%)

19. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
NUHEIs lower equity participation except for low SES
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20. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Will the Minister’s interest be in Low SES or Regional/Remote?
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21. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
NUHEIs lower equity retention for all groups
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22. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
NUHEIs lower equity success for all groups
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23. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
NUHEIs lower equity success for all groups
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24. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
NUHEIs more satisfied (all students)
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25. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Average performance masks considerable variation
across both NUHEIs and universities
For almost all groups, and equity performance indicators,
NUHEIs include highest and lowest performance
Are NUHEI / university comparisons useful
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26. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
NUHEIs Highest, lowest, larger variance, lower median
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Low SES Participation Retention Success

27. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Implications
Where should policy focus be placed?
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Reward the best 
Uplift the mean 
Address low performance 
Address variance
All students Success Rates

28. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
Transparency of equity performance in NUHEIs
Role for both Department of Education and Training and NUHEI self-reporting
Sharing of good practice:
Role for both Department of Education and Training and NUHEI self-organisation
e.g. HEPP QN.
Students:
Why do students choose NUHEIs when cost of education is at least 40% higher?
How might their voice contribute to quality and policy advocacy?
Policy and future research
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29. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
What is independent higher education doing
about equity?
You tell me:
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30. Deakin University CRICOS Provider Code: 00113B
m.brett@deakin.edu.au
Thank you - Keep in Touch
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@MattBrettLTU