After a comparison of institutional autonomy and government influence patterns in Australian and United States higher education institutions, it is concluded that variety in balances is possible and does exist. These balances can be altered to suit state needs and also free independent institutions for their own purposes. (MSE)

Management tasks of department chairs and their perceived needs for staff development were studied in Australian Colleges of Advanced Education (CAE), U.S. state colleges, and a U.S. university. Data were obtained from 679 Australian and 98 U.S. department heads, using similar instruments developed by the Nebraska-Lincoln Task Force on Management…

In Australia, higher education policy changes are being initiated by a federal government without legislative control over state institutions. Although the federal government wishes to see a more diverse system and claims to be de-bureaucratizing the system, its policies encourage imitation of elite universities and appear to be centralizing…

The so-called binary system of postsecondary education in Australia, a subject of recent criticism, is found to be less a matter of concern than the related funding issues and concern for equitable support of all sectors. (MSE)

The simple abolition of university fees in Australia has failed to meet its stated objective of equalizing access to higher education and should be reinstated, with financial assistance available to qualified students unable to pay. (MSE)

The following invited addresses and research papers are provided: "The Question of Legitimacy" (Harry W. Arthurs); "The Historical Perspective" (H. Blair Neatby); "Politics and Its Limits on Government, Intermediaries and Universities" (Lee Southern); "State Control of Degree Granting: The Establishment of a…

Faculty attitudes concerning the Australian government's proposal for periodic reviews of faculty performance were determined through interviews in 1983. The Australian Senate's report on tenure of academic staff recommended that all staff be regularly reviewed on their performance in teaching, research, and service. A sample of 104 University of…

This document is an English-language abstract (approximately 1,500 words) of a report by the "Wark Committee", established to promote the balanced development of higher education outside the universities and teacher training colleges. The aim of this development is a new type of institution, the college of advanced education. The states…

The provisions in Australia's 1993 Higher Education Budget Statement regarding equity, diversity, and educational quality are examined. The discussion draws on current models of governance of public and private systems to examine ways in which the federal government has imposed accountability mechanisms on institutions. (Author/MSE)

For over thirty years, portfolios have been used to help adult learners gain recognition for their prior learning and take greater control of their educational experiences. The portfolio has become a distinctive means of assessing such learning, serving as a meaningful alternative to conventional papers and standardized testing. This book provides…