Australian Universities Accord

The Australian Universities Accord was a 12-month review of Australia’s higher education system, led by a Panel of eminent Australians (the Panel).

The objective of the Accord was to devise recommendations and performance targets 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 Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP, released the Australian Universities Accord Final Report on 25 February 2024. The report contains 47 recommendations and aims to create a long-term reform plan for the higher education sector to meet Australia’s future skills needs.

Through the 2024-25 Budget, the Australian Government has begun delivering on reforms recommended in the Accord final report.

TEQSA and the Accord

We engaged with and supported the Panel’s work ahead of the publication of the Accord final report.

TEQSA was also a member of the Australian Universities Accord Ministerial Reference Group, which was chaired by the Minister for Education. The group included representatives of higher education institutions, business, staff, students and other experts.

TEQSA is working with the Department of Education and other stakeholders to support the implementation of agreed Accord measures.

TEQSA’s submissions to the Accord

Tertiary harmonisation

As part of the Accord 2024-25 Budget Measures, the Australian Government announced $27.7 million over 4 years to 2027-28 to fund a initiatives to drive harmonisation between the higher education and vocational education and training (VET) sectors.

TEQSA looks forward to engaging with the Australian Government, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and other stakeholders to implement initiatives for the tertiary education system that are designed to better align the higher education and VET sectors.

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