Legislate to protect academics from trade rules, Australia told Care needed to avoid scaring off doctoral students and burying officials in paperwork, senators hear By John Ross 1 March
More STEM students alone ‘won’t lift Australian productivity’ Conference hears that the quality of degrees is at least as important as the quantity and the disciplines By John Ross 29 February
Opposition ‘welcomes’ accord debate but questions access drive Coalition pledges to consider landmark Australian report ‘in detail’ By John Ross 28 February
Australian tertiary education commission ‘could become a monster’ Best way to stop proposed oversight body going rogue is to avoid setting it up in the first place, conference hears By John Ross 28 February
Confusion over Accord’s ‘demand-driven’ widening access plan Key recommendation in Australian sector review report is substantially different from its historical namesake By John Ross 28 February
Australian universities lock horns over ‘wealth tax’ proposal Education minister has an ‘open mind’, amid debate over adapted plan for levy on international students’ fees By John Ross 27 February
Drag queen helps kangaroo researcher win Dance Your PhD contest Animal behaviour expert Weliton Menário Costa wins international prize for flamboyant take on how marsupials have distinct personalities By Jack Grove 26 February
Australian Universities Accord reforms ‘need 20 years minimum’ Enthusiasm for Australia’s visionary higher education review has been tempered by the huge implementation costs – both money and time By John Ross 25 February
Accord, and new hub, puts western suburbs kids on Smart Street Locals-made-good laud the potential of more accessible – and visible – universities By John Ross 25 February
Let need determine university funding, Australian reviewers say Long-term reform blueprint prescribes teaching, research, student support and infrastructure funding overhauls By John Ross 24 February
Sexual abuse: Australia to establish student safety ombudsman New body will have investigative powers and ability to settle complaints when universities behave ‘unreasonably’ – including recommending fee refunds By John Ross 23 February
Visa chaos ‘latest driver’ of ‘two-tiered Australian sector’ Risk-rating system, which punishes universities for visa refusals, merely the latest form of ‘structural disadvantage’ By John Ross 23 February
