A central recommendation in the Report of the Australian Universities Accord is that the Government establish an Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC). The Government are acting on that recommendation, have established an implementation advisory group and the Department of Education has issued an “Implementation consultation paper”. 

In September 2024, the Australian Innovative and Research Universities (IRU) held their annual Leaders Forum in Murdoch University. A key issue on their agenda was the ATEC.

As a former Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority, Ireland (HEA, a body very similar in function to the proposed ATEC) Tom Boland was invited to share Ireland’s experience, and experience internationally, to inform the universities on the role, responsibilities and functions of the ATEC and its relationship with the universities and Government.

For an overview of his comments, please read here