Education Minister Jason Clare says he will address some serious matters in the university sector. 

Mr Clare announced an independent review of the Australian Research Council’s role and function last week. 

He says he wants to address broader university matters including equity and inclusion, Indigenous enrolment numbers, student safety, as well as the role and operations of the Australian Research Council (ARC).

The Australasian Council of Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (DASSH) has welcomed the remarks and the effort by the Federal Government to refresh its relationships with universities, which soured during the previous Coalition government. 

“We are confident these changes and commitments signal the beginning of a set of reforms that will continue to improve outcomes for universities, students and staff, particularly those with a humanities, arts or social sciences background,”  DASSH president Catharine Coleborne said in a statement this week.

“We are very much looking forward to working with the new minister to support the step-change process needed to achieve real reform.”

In regard to the ARC review, Ms Coleborne said it could be an “important turning point”, but warned the sector needs a humanities representative on the council’s advisory committee.

“The independent review of the ARC is something DASSH has advocated for over the last six months – particularly when calling for an end to ministerial vetoes on Discovery Grants,” she said.

“The appointment of Sue Dodds, former DASSH president and current deputy vice-chancellor (Research and Industry Engagement) at La Trobe University, to the ARC advisory committee firms up the minister’s commitment to a reset.”

ARC CEO Judi Zielke has also welcomed the review. 

“The ARC legislation has not been substantially reviewed since it was established more than two decades ago – yet the challenges and needs of the research sector are now very different,” Ms Zielke said.

“The new review will lay foundations for changes the ARC needs to make to serve the research sector over the coming decade.”