Losing sight of Humboldt: a synoptic review of Australian government policy over the last 35 years

Abstract

Over the last 35 years Australian higher education policy, like that of most countries, has undergone radical changes. This article reviews these changes in terms of four key periods, beginning with the abolition of student fees, through to the recent unprecedented levels of government control and intervention. Policies are compared with each other and common themes across periods, attempts at reinvigorating or reintroducing old ideas, and genuinely new policies are discovered. Finally, the impact of these policies over the last 35 years on the higher education sector, particularly its academics and institutions, is discussed.

Keywords:

• higher education policy
• government intervention
• university governance

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Mandy Lupton of the Queensland University of Technology for her helpful comments on an earlier version of this article.