Robson tasked with red tape reduction

Former University of Western Australia vice-chancellor Alan Robson is among a group of leading academics appointed to advise the federal government on reducing red tape in the tertiary education sector.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne today announced the establishment of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency advisory council.

Under its terms of reference, the council will advise the minister on minimising regulatory intervention while upholding quality standards and the reputation of the sector.

Mr Pyne said removing unnecessary regulation would encourage greater autonomy and competition in higher education.

“I look forward to working with the council to uphold standards and quality in higher education while also reducing the regulatory burden, including excessive reporting requirements, where possible," he said in a statement.

“We must ensure the national higher education quality agency, TEQSA, is working as efficiently and effectively as possible in fulfilling its most important function of upholding quality across all providers, especially through provider registration and course accreditation."

The council will be chaired by University of Western Sydney chancellor Peter Shergold, who served as secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under the Howard government.

Australian Catholic University vice-chancellor Greg Craven, Fisher Jeffries partner Karen Thomas, and International Education Association of Australia national executive director Phil Honeywood round out the council.