The Accord aims to improve the quality, accessibility, affordability and sustainability of higher education, in order to achieve long term security and prosperity for the sector and the nation.
The final report includes 47 recommendations, including doubling the number of Commonwealth supported students at universities from 860,000 to 1.8 million by 2050; reducing student contributions to address the most significant impacts of the Job-ready Graduates (JRG) package; and reforming the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) repayment arrangements.
Please see below for recent media releases and other publications by the IRU in response to the Australian Universities Accord.
IRU Response: Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024
September 12, 2024
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024. In our submission to the Universities Accord, IRU raised many of the issues this Bill seeks to address, and we look forward to seeing these and further measures implemented as the government works through the remaining Accord recommendations.
Find out more in the summary and the full submission (PDF download).
IRU response to the Universities Accord implementation consultation papers on the Managed Growth Funding model and Needs-based Funding
August 12, 2024
The IRU supports a new Managed Growth Funding model, comprising a System-wide Pool to meet long-term national targets and Managed Growth Targets as part of mission-based compacts.
Read the summary and the full submission (PDF download).
IRU response to the Universities Accord implementation consultation paper on the Australian Tertiary Education Commission
July 29, 2024
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Australian Government’s proposed approach to the establishment of a new Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC). The ATEC is an important part of the integrated policy and funding reforms needed to meet the goals of the Universities Accord.
Read the summary and the full submission (PDF download).
IRU welcomes action to reduce student debt
7 May 2024
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) welcomes today’s announcement by Education Minister the Hon Jason Clare MP and Skills Minister the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP of changes to the indexation of student loans to reduce debt.
Read the full media release here (PDF download).
The Universities Accord and May Budget should stay focused on equity
24 April 2024
In the lead-up to the Federal Budget on the 14th of May, universities are keenly awaiting the government’s response to the final report by the Universities Accord panel, delivered to Minister Jason Clare at the end of 2023.
Read the full opinion piece here.
University reforms for a more equitable and innovative Australia
February 25, 2024
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) welcomes today’s release by Education Minister the Hon Jason Clare MP of the final report by the Australian Universities Accord panel. This response lays out which IRU recommendations have been adopted in the final Accord report.
Read the full media release here (PDF download).
National R&D competitiveness requires a new international strategy
February 12, 2024
For universities, a big start to 2024 will come with the release of the final report by the Universities Accord panel, which was handed to Minister Jason Clare at the end of last year. The Accord is the biggest review of the Australian university system in fifteen years and is charged with setting the policy foundations to enable universities to maximise their contribution to the nation for the decades ahead.
Read the full media release here.
No time to lose to commence urgent university reforms: IRU Pre-Budget Submission 2024-25
January 29, 2024
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the 2024-25 Federal Budget. This year’s Budget comes at a critical time for government to respond to the final report of the Universities Accord panel and to commence the reforms that are necessary to maximise the contribution of universities to national productivity and inclusive economic growth.
Read the summary and the full submission here (PDF download).
IRU Response to Universities Accord Interim Report
September 4, 2023
On 1 September 2023, the IRU submitted its response to the Universities Accord Interim Report. This builds upon the full IRU submission to the Accord (made in April). The IRU vision for the Universities Accord is for a new partnership between government and universities to deliver a more equitable and innovative Australia.
Read the summary and the full submission here (PDF download).
IRU Accord response focuses on equity, research, diversity and innovation
September 1, 2023
The IRU’s response to the Universities Accord Interim Report emphasises the opportunity for a new partnership between government and universities to deliver a more equitable and innovative Australia.
Read the full media release (PDF download) and the IRU response here (PDF download).
Australian Universities Accord – IRU Submission
April 11, 2023
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) warmly welcomes the Review of Australia’s Higher Education System as the first step towards a new Australian Universities Accord.
Read the summary and the full submission here (PDF download).
Media release: IRU submission in response to the Australian Universities Accord discussion paper
April 11, 2023
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) has set out five major priorities for reform to ensure that Australia’s universities can deliver a more equitable and innovative future for all Australians. In its submission to the Universities Accord process, released today, the IRU makes 28 specific recommendations for changes to set Australia’s higher education system up for the decades ahead.
Read the media release and the full submission here (PDF download).
Australian Universities Accord: Consultation on Terms of Reference
December 19, 2022
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) warmly welcomes the Review of Australia’s Higher Education System as the first step towards a new Australian Universities Accord. At a time of significant global change, the Review provides an important opportunity to examine where the Australian university system is working well, and where reform is needed.
Read the summary and the full submission here (PDF download).
Universities Accord opens the door for a more equitable and innovative Australia
November 16, 2022
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP, of the details for the new Australian Universities Accord. The Accord terms of reference and expert panel provide an excellent foundation for a new era in Australian tertiary education, research and innovation.
Read the full media statement here (PDF download).