Australia’s New Tertiary Education Commission to Steer Long-Term Reform

By Neerav September 11, 2025
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Australia has launched the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC), a new independent body tasked with driving long-term higher education reform and balancing domestic priorities with international growth.

Formed in response to the 2023 Universities Accord, ATEC has begun interim operations and will oversee key reforms aimed at lifting participation, widening equity, and strengthening links between vocational and higher education. Education minister Jason Clare said the Commission is designed to ensure that reform momentum is not lost to shifting political cycles.

Speaking at the Australian Student Equity Symposium in Sydney, Clare stressed that ATEC will act as a long-term steward of the system. “Almost always, when a big piece of thinking is done to reform or transform a part of the economy, governments will pick off parts of it and then the caravan moves on. I want to make sure that’s not the case here,” he said.

The Commission will negotiate mission-based compacts with universities, covering both funding and institutional purpose. Clare noted that while the Accord laid strong foundations, it could not anticipate every challenge. ATEC, he argued, provides a “living process” to adapt reforms to future needs through constant feedback and oversight.

International education will also be a central focus. Assistant minister for international education Julian Hill explained that universities will be required to present their own strategies for international enrolments, moving away from a one-size-fits-all model. Institutions must demonstrate diversification, contributions to national priorities, and sustainable growth.

Hill emphasised that ATEC will monitor reliance on specific markets, regional delivery, student housing, and overall sustainability to ensure international student growth aligns with Australia’s national objectives.

Operating in an interim capacity, ATEC is expected to be fully established by 2026, subject to legislation. Policymakers hope it will deliver a more coordinated and sustainable higher education system, ensuring reforms continue to progress and that institutions balance both domestic and international priorities in line with national policy goals.

Source: THE PIE NEWS

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