Government moves to reduce reporting requirements

The reporting requirements of Australia’s universities will be reduced and simplified in a new push by the Coalition Government to cut red tape for the sector. The Government today responded to the 2012 PhillipsKPA Review of Reporting Requirements for Universities by accepting all of the recommendations. Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said he was determined to see all of the Review’s 27 recommendations implemented. "Universities have understandably raised concerns about the level of reporting and regulation they face," Mr Pyne said. "I want to allow universities to spend more time delivering the best higher education possible, freeing them from unnecessary reporting. "Reducing red tape is a key priority for this Government. "I have directed the Department of Education to work with Universities Australia (UA) to implement the Review’s recommendations." UA will provide Mr Pyne with an assessment on the implementation of the Review, including an estimate of the cost savings to universities, in December 2014. As part of the implementation process, the department will: - develop a single higher education research data collection; - list annual reporting requirements to enhance understanding of the scale of reporting and to identify areas of duplication; - develop a single equity report; remove duplication of reporting of capital asset management; - streamline or remove Tuition Protection Service default reporting requirements; and - streamline data collections by integrating international student and financial reporting into the Higher Education Information Management System. The Department will oversee the implementation of the Review’s recommendations in consultation with the National Advisory Group for Higher Education Data and Information (NAGHEDI). The Review of Reporting Requirements for Universities and its recommendations and the Government’s response can be viewed at: http://www.education.gov.au/review-reporting-requirements-universities.