Statement from Dr Nelson, Federal Minister of Education re-Greenwich et al

Statement by Australian Minister for Education, Science and Training Brendan
Nelson

11 October, 2002 MIN 202/02


PROTECTING AUSTRALIAN HIGHER EDUCATION

Amendments to be shortly introduced into Federal Parliament will
significantly boost protection for the integrity of Australia's higher
education system, which currently earns the country more than $4 billion a year in export income.

The proposed amendments to the Higher Education Funding Act (HEFA) will, for the first time, bring external territories such as Norfolk Island, Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) group under the National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes.

The National Protocols were agreed to in 2000 by the States and mainland Territories and the Commonwealth through the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs.

The amendments will require higher education providers wishing to establish themselves in Australia's external territories to meet the same standards as those applied to providers in Australia's mainland States and Territories.

The changes mean that unless a person or body is listed as self-accrediting on the Register of the Australian Qualifications Framework or approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training in line with the National Protocols, they will be unable in an external territory to:
operate as a university or other higher education provider;
offer or purport to offer higher education awards or courses; and
use the title "university".

Failure to observe the new requirements will result in fines for each breach of the provisions.

The Bill will override the operation of the Greenwich University Act 1998 (Norfolk Island). Greenwich University was assessed by the Commonwealth in December 2000 as not meeting the standards expected of an Australian university and has since had over 18 months to address deficiencies and provide evidence that it could meet expected quality standards.


2.


In the meantime Greenwich University has continued to operate and market its courses overseas, describing itself as an institution approved by legislation of an external territory of Australia and formally approved by the Commonwealth of Australia.

The continued operation, without accreditation, of any institution has the capacity to damage Australia's reputation as a high quality, quality-assured provider of higher education.

Under the legislative amendments, the Minister for Education, Science and Training will become an accreditation agency for any providers wishing to operate in the external territories.

In addition the legislative changes require bodies such as the International University of America Pty Ltd, a company registered on Norfolk Island, to cease using the title "university" in its company name. Use of the title "university" in the external territories will require the Minister's permission.

This strong action will require our external territories to come into line with the rest of mainland Australia and will go a long way towards protecting the international standing of Australian higher education.

Also, a public warning about fake degrees and unauthorised higher education institutions has been posted on my Department's website at http://www.dest.gov.au/highered/alert/

I will be discussing these issues with my State colleagues today at an Education Ministers' meeting in Ballarat, Victoria.



For further information:
Dr Nelson's Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Laila Lacis0412
040 034

 

In my neck of the woods, if the federal government started overturning provincial and territorial legislation, there would be disasterous consequences.

Power sharing is achieved by making thousands of comprimises. Unilaterally changing the balance could upset the whole system.

Our three territories are largely native and any federal action would be accompanied by accusations of racism. You let the white people govern themselves, but not us?

In a familiar Canadian context, Norfolk Island could demand independence but then I guess that would not upset large numbers of Australians.

The often held belief that in a federal system national government is somehow fairer, better, or more just is not true, in my opinion.

 

If Greenwich limited its claim of legitimacy to Norfolk Island, fine. But it didn't. The main beef with Greenwich is the implication they strive to make that they are an Australian university. So Australia acted. IMHO, they had to.

 

Are we going to be seeing another move by Greenwich once this is passed? Maybe another St. Kitts school?

John

 

Tonga? Royal Greenwich??

 

It would seem reasonable that Greenwich could operate from Norfolk for some time into the future. The owner, an attorney (IIRC), could take this to the courts. I don't pretend to understand the law--much less Australian law--but isn't it possible to get an injunction stopping this action while taking it to court? A stay of execution, if you will.

Absent that, I vote Brunei. English-speaking, wealthy, former British protectorate.

 

Don't underestimate Walsh

Walsh doesn't lie down, roll over and give up.

Wait for the next news.............

 

It's not over....

I agree with Peter - it's not over and could take years for a resolution.

Cheers,

George