Universities welcome portfolio backflip

Universities have welcomed the federal government's decision to change the name of
one of its portfolios to acknowledge the higher education sector.
But, they say, it's still not clear which minister will be in charge of postgraduate
coursework.
Some education and student groups have been upset that responsibilities for
teaching, learning and research under the re-elected Labor government would be
shared among three ministers.
Representatives from the universities sector were particularly worried that their
interests would fall under a portfolio called jobs, skills and workplace relations.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Monday said there would be no change
to the name despite the worries, but less than 24 hours later Senator Chris Evans'
round was changed to begin with the words `tertiary education'.
Universities Australia chief executive Glenn Withers lobbied Ms Gillard to change
the name and was pleased she had responded.
"We are pleased to have a titling distraction out of the way, but it was a titling
issue that was very important to people within universities," Dr Withers told AAP on
Tuesday.
"You'd be surprised at the extent of concern expressed over this issue across the
whole of the university system."
Dr Withers said the portfolio's original name unfairly tied the benefits of higher
education to simply filling job vacancies.
"Behind the words are policies," he said.
"If you have a very narrow conception of education - that is short-term labour
market needs - you will be producing a very different Australia, for instance, than
one that is about personal growth and flexible thinking."
Dr Withers said the sector and the minister for tertiary education, jobs, skills and
workplace relations could now get back to focusing on policies affecting
universities.
He also took a positive view of Labor's decision to have education responsibilities
handled by Senator Evans, Peter Garrett and Senator Kim Carr.
"We're very happy to work with that, we think it could be made to work well," Dr
Withers said.
"We see that as three strong ministers supporting education ... and we think that's
a good step forward."
Senator Evans said he and Ms Gillard agreed to address the sector's concerns and
change the portfolio's name before ministers were sworn in at Government House in
Canberra later on Tuesday.
"While I think it is more a question of what you do and what you deliver than what
you are called, I thought it was reasonable to respond to that," Senator Evans told
ABC Radio.
Senator Evans said the division of responsibilities, which will see Mr Garrett
taking on early childhood education and schools, and Kim Carr retaining research,
was a win for educators and students.
"Sure, you need a vision across all sectors ... but the government will provide that
overarching vision," he said.
"What we are doing is making sure we have a lot of resources, a lot of drive, and
hopefully a lot of talent focused on the challenge."
A statement from the country's top Universities, the Group of Eight, also welcomed
the change to Senator Evans' title, but said clarification was needed on which
minister was in charge of postgrad coursework.
The statement said the government had said that Senator Carr was responsible for
postgrad education, but it was not clear if that included postgrad coursework, which
previously did not come under Senator Carr's round.