The final report of the Australian Universities Accord calls for an overhaul of the tertiary education sector. 

The report calls for the abolition of the Coalition's controversial Job-Ready Graduates policy, as part of measures to make higher education more equitable and accessible.

The Accord's report, designed to reshape the landscape of Australian universities, calls for an increase in university places to 1.8 million by 2050, a pivot towards needs-based funding, and an ambitious target to educate 80 per cent of the working-age population. 

The former government’s Job-Ready Graduates program was criticised for disproportionately increasing costs for students pursuing arts degrees. 

In its place, the Accord calls for a funding model similar to that of primary and secondary education, where resources are allocated based on student and institutional needs. 

This model aims to level the playing field, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including those from First Nations communities, rural areas, and those with disabilities.

The proposed model is a rebuke to the Coalition’s policies, which have been described as inequitable and counterproductive. 

The recommendations put a focus on financial support for students, including remuneration for compulsory placements, and a reformed HECS/HELP loan system that considers future earning potential.

The report also highlights the necessity of increasing the tertiary attainment rate to avoid “lasting damage to Australia's prospects of national economic success” and to promote social cohesion. 

Further, the Accord proposes significant regulatory changes, including the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC), to oversee quality and standards across the sector. 

This new body would incorporate existing agencies and introduce additional oversight mechanisms to ensure the sector's future vitality and responsiveness to societal needs.

On the international front, the Accord suggests a more strategic approach to recruiting students from abroad, emphasising diversity and rigorous English language proficiency standards. 

This is alongside a call for enhanced research funding, including a new Australian Challenges Strategic Fund aimed at addressing national needs and promoting innovation.

Critically, the Accord challenges the sector to move beyond the status quo, calling for a collective effort to embrace change and prioritise equity, access, and quality in tertiary education. 

As the sector awaits the government's response ahead of the May budget, the Accord's recommendations have ignited a conversation about the future of Australian higher education. 

The full report is accessible here.