@johnfleckeross.bsky.social
Opposition savages government’s proposal for a tertiary education “steward”, flagging default rejection of bill to establish ATEC - a “turgid technocrat policy” to impose an unnecessary bureaucratic addition on an already over-regulated sector. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/austral...
Australian opposition condemns ‘turgid and bureaucratic’ Atec
Government faces horse-trading in the Senate, as shadow minister flags outright rejection of bill to establish commission
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Opposition savages government’s proposal for a tertiary education “steward”, flagging default rejection of bill to establish ATEC - a “turgid technocrat policy” to impose an unnecessary bureaucratic addition on an already over-regulated sector. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/austral...
Chinese demand for Australian higher education has come off the boil, in a reflection of changing enrolment patterns around the globe. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/demand-...
Demand from Chinese students declines Down Under
Drop in visa applications reflects the social and economic factors affecting the behaviour of the world’s most globally mobile students, analysts say
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Chinese demand for Australian higher education has come off the boil, in a reflection of changing enrolment patterns around the globe. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/demand-...
Australian lobbyists have borrowed a phrase from education minister Jason Clare’s copybook, as they wait to see whether this year’s federal budget includes cash to fund the outcomes from a landmark review of research. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/researc...
Research reforms ‘bigger than one budget’, lobbyists warn
Recommendations from strategic R&D review still unknown, but Australian representative groups want them funded anyway
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Australian lobbyists have borrowed a phrase from education minister Jason Clare’s copybook, as they wait to see whether this year’s federal budget includes cash to fund the outcomes from a landmark review of research. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/researc...
Australia’s sovereign fund for medical research is being underspent by hundreds of millions of dollars a year, even though it is on track to accumulate almost twice as much capital as originally planned. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/austral...
Australian medical research being ‘short-changed’
Fund underspent even as its value rises, as government curbs payouts and grant success rates head south
www.timeshighereducation.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:41 PM
Australia’s sovereign fund for medical research is being underspent by hundreds of millions of dollars a year, even though it is on track to accumulate almost twice as much capital as originally planned. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/austral...
Fees to rise 3.6% in 2027, raising likely cost of current arts degrees to about $54k. Submissions to ATEC legislation criticise agency's lack of power to advise on student contributions. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/give-ne...
Give new commission power over fees, Canberra told
Multiple calls to extend Atec’s remit, as the cost of arts degrees edges past A$54K
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Fees to rise 3.6% in 2027, raising likely cost of current arts degrees to about $54k. Submissions to ATEC legislation criticise agency's lack of power to advise on student contributions. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/give-ne...
Next year’s hike to Australian tuition fees is already set in train, and the tertiary education commission – whose role includes stewarding changes to higher education funding – will be powerless to prevent it. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/give-ne...
Give new commission power over fees, Canberra told
Multiple calls to extend Atec’s remit, as the cost of arts degrees edges past A$54K
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Next year’s hike to Australian tuition fees is already set in train, and the tertiary education commission – whose role includes stewarding changes to higher education funding – will be powerless to prevent it. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/give-ne...
New Zealand’s decision to overhaul “nonsensical” laboratory health and safety rules could save taxpayers billions of dollars, universities say. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/lab-saf...
Lab safety overhaul could save NZ$3 billion, universities say
Rule changes seen as way of improving safety while avoiding billions of dollars being wasted on ‘unnecessary compliance costs’
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 28, 2026 at 9:18 PM
New Zealand’s decision to overhaul “nonsensical” laboratory health and safety rules could save taxpayers billions of dollars, universities say. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/lab-saf...
“When there's a problem it’s hard to report it or get help. Health has very structured processes. Universities have integrity offices. For these other government agencies…there’s no one responsible and no one you can complain to.” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/funder-...
Funder review rights ‘leave researchers in impossible position’
Mandatory edits of research findings a ‘blind spot’ in integrity debate, says scholar who experienced government agency ‘interference’
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:56 PM
“When there's a problem it’s hard to report it or get help. Health has very structured processes. Universities have integrity offices. For these other government agencies…there’s no one responsible and no one you can complain to.” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/funder-...
Unnamed govt agency demands pre-publication review of any research it facilitates. Its guidelines suggest it will give feedback on the research. Feedback took 6 months and turned out to be line-by-line editing of results and removal of an interview quote. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/funder-...
Funder review rights ‘leave researchers in impossible position’
Mandatory edits of research findings a ‘blind spot’ in integrity debate, says scholar who experienced government agency ‘interference’
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:54 PM
Unnamed govt agency demands pre-publication review of any research it facilitates. Its guidelines suggest it will give feedback on the research. Feedback took 6 months and turned out to be line-by-line editing of results and removal of an interview quote. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/funder-...
Charles Sturt University becomes the latest Australian institution to announce a South Asian outpost, planning a new campus in Sri Lanka’s capital. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/charles...
Charles Sturt announces Sri Lanka campus in Colombo
Regional Australian university joins nine others in establishing South Asian outpost, promising revenue will support New South Wales heartland
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Charles Sturt University becomes the latest Australian institution to announce a South Asian outpost, planning a new campus in Sri Lanka’s capital. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/charles...
Australian university faces backlash after its governing body began mapping out how it might respond to hypothetical pressure to change its name. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/keep-yo...
Keep your name, James Cook University warned by minister
Council merely doing preparatory work, institution insists, after politician decries ‘historical revisionism’
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 27, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Australian university faces backlash after its governing body began mapping out how it might respond to hypothetical pressure to change its name. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/keep-yo...
Growth in Oz international ed now back in undergrad after several years of postgrad surge. Unis need to change their overseas marketing strategies as a result. Unis also turning back to scholarships – a euphemism for discounts – to attract students. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-st...
More stability beckons for Australian international education
Analyst predicts end to enrolment uncertainty despite pressure on South Asia, onshore demand and postgraduate programmes
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Growth in Oz international ed now back in undergrad after several years of postgrad surge. Unis need to change their overseas marketing strategies as a result. Unis also turning back to scholarships – a euphemism for discounts – to attract students. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-st...
Australian universities’ international arms can look forward to a year of stability, but tightened regulation – particularly of students from South Asia and those trying to extend their time Down Under – could ruffle the waters. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-st...
More stability beckons for Australian international education
Analyst predicts end to enrolment uncertainty despite pressure on South Asia, onshore demand and postgraduate programmes
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Australian universities’ international arms can look forward to a year of stability, but tightened regulation – particularly of students from South Asia and those trying to extend their time Down Under – could ruffle the waters. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-st...
“It’s about the colour of the language. Reviewers sense you are not speaking English as your first language. They believe there’s only one way of using academic English. It becomes a review of your language in the name of peer review of your scholarship.” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/linguis...
‘Linguistic snobbery’ in peer review ‘hurts new researchers’
Native English speakers accused of abusing anonymous feedback to offer ‘biting critiques’ of language rather than scholarship
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:29 PM
“It’s about the colour of the language. Reviewers sense you are not speaking English as your first language. They believe there’s only one way of using academic English. It becomes a review of your language in the name of peer review of your scholarship.” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/linguis...
“Anglophone academia risks unconsciously and continuously holding back those lacking…linguistic capital, not because of the quality of the scholarship but simply because of the register in which it is written.” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/linguis...
‘Linguistic snobbery’ in peer review ‘hurts new researchers’
Native English speakers accused of abusing anonymous feedback to offer ‘biting critiques’ of language rather than scholarship
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:27 PM
“Anglophone academia risks unconsciously and continuously holding back those lacking…linguistic capital, not because of the quality of the scholarship but simply because of the register in which it is written.” www.timeshighereducation.com/news/linguis...
Anglophone academics’ dismissive attitude towards non-native English speakers’ authorship is little different from the “snobbish” elitism that favours private school-educated undergraduates over their less moneyed peers. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/linguis...
‘Linguistic snobbery’ in peer review ‘hurts new researchers’
Native English speakers accused of abusing anonymous feedback to offer ‘biting critiques’ of language rather than scholarship
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 26, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Anglophone academics’ dismissive attitude towards non-native English speakers’ authorship is little different from the “snobbish” elitism that favours private school-educated undergraduates over their less moneyed peers. www.timeshighereducation.com/news/linguis...
Paul Harpur: “We have a habit in Australia to have everything non-disclosured. It’s public money. We shouldn’t do it. We’re essentially hiding problems from the shareholders – the citizens of the country.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
Are NDAs quietly compromising universities’ mission?
Critics allege that Australian universities have developed a bad habit of secrecy around severance agreements even when it serves no reasonable purpose – or, worse, prevents an important wider issue f...
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Paul Harpur: “We have a habit in Australia to have everything non-disclosured. It’s public money. We shouldn’t do it. We’re essentially hiding problems from the shareholders – the citizens of the country.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
David Pocock: “We’ve seen this govt use NDAs with stakeholders during consultation on legislation. Secrecy is bizarrely seen as necessary to get things done.” In unis they're “an insidious anti-transparency practice that's crept in across the board”. www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
Are NDAs quietly compromising universities’ mission?
Critics allege that Australian universities have developed a bad habit of secrecy around severance agreements even when it serves no reasonable purpose – or, worse, prevents an important wider issue f...
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:24 PM
David Pocock: “We’ve seen this govt use NDAs with stakeholders during consultation on legislation. Secrecy is bizarrely seen as necessary to get things done.” In unis they're “an insidious anti-transparency practice that's crept in across the board”. www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
Peter Tregear on the non-disparagement clause: “Its very lack of legal clarity means the prospect of expensive litigation – and in such a scenario the institution always has the upper hand…by virtue of their deep pockets.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
Are NDAs quietly compromising universities’ mission?
Critics allege that Australian universities have developed a bad habit of secrecy around severance agreements even when it serves no reasonable purpose – or, worse, prevents an important wider issue f...
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Peter Tregear on the non-disparagement clause: “Its very lack of legal clarity means the prospect of expensive litigation – and in such a scenario the institution always has the upper hand…by virtue of their deep pockets.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
“They claim they’ve got transparent governance processes while you’re watching everything get slapped ‘confidential’ and people being moved on with NDAs. This stuff is eroding our purpose. How do you engender trust with the public? You share with them.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
Are NDAs quietly compromising universities’ mission?
Critics allege that Australian universities have developed a bad habit of secrecy around severance agreements even when it serves no reasonable purpose – or, worse, prevents an important wider issue f...
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:19 PM
“They claim they’ve got transparent governance processes while you’re watching everything get slapped ‘confidential’ and people being moved on with NDAs. This stuff is eroding our purpose. How do you engender trust with the public? You share with them.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
“You get a new regime coming into place and major people in those offices get NDAs. The new boss wants to get rid of the acolytes of the old boss and bring in a new crowd.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
Are NDAs quietly compromising universities’ mission?
Critics allege that Australian universities have developed a bad habit of secrecy around severance agreements even when it serves no reasonable purpose – or, worse, prevents an important wider issue f...
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:17 PM
“You get a new regime coming into place and major people in those offices get NDAs. The new boss wants to get rid of the acolytes of the old boss and bring in a new crowd.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
NDAs often inserted to protect the reputations of staff who had performed poorly or who stood accused of misconduct, at their request. “A lot of the time, the trade-off is about embarrassment.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
Are NDAs quietly compromising universities’ mission?
Critics allege that Australian universities have developed a bad habit of secrecy around severance agreements even when it serves no reasonable purpose – or, worse, prevents an important wider issue f...
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:16 PM
NDAs often inserted to protect the reputations of staff who had performed poorly or who stood accused of misconduct, at their request. “A lot of the time, the trade-off is about embarrassment.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
TEQSA, National Student Ombudsman and Fair Work Ombudsman aren't monitoring use of NDAs. “Non-disclosure clauses in deeds of settlement are primarily governed by state and territory laws.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
Are NDAs quietly compromising universities’ mission?
Critics allege that Australian universities have developed a bad habit of secrecy around severance agreements even when it serves no reasonable purpose – or, worse, prevents an important wider issue f...
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:14 PM
TEQSA, National Student Ombudsman and Fair Work Ombudsman aren't monitoring use of NDAs. “Non-disclosure clauses in deeds of settlement are primarily governed by state and territory laws.” www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
David Pocock: “multiple” former ANU staff contacted his office wanting to share “information of concern” but were prevented from doing so by NDAs they had signed, often after accepting voluntary redundancies. www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
Are NDAs quietly compromising universities’ mission?
Critics allege that Australian universities have developed a bad habit of secrecy around severance agreements even when it serves no reasonable purpose – or, worse, prevents an important wider issue f...
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:11 PM
David Pocock: “multiple” former ANU staff contacted his office wanting to share “information of concern” but were prevented from doing so by NDAs they had signed, often after accepting voluntary redundancies. www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
While disparagement clauses do not impinge on academics’ rights to enquire and commentate on their areas of expertise, they are incompatible with any concept of academic freedom that includes the right to criticise their own institutions. www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...
Are NDAs quietly compromising universities’ mission?
Critics allege that Australian universities have developed a bad habit of secrecy around severance agreements even when it serves no reasonable purpose – or, worse, prevents an important wider issue f...
www.timeshighereducation.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:09 PM
While disparagement clauses do not impinge on academics’ rights to enquire and commentate on their areas of expertise, they are incompatible with any concept of academic freedom that includes the right to criticise their own institutions. www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/are-nd...