The Act determines categories of providers eligible for public funding, establishes the basis for providing public funding, codifies the existing aims of universities, and introduces measures to strengthen Australia’s knowledge base.
[1] In order to participate in the National Competitive Grants Program, providers must be approved.
They are eligible for Commonwealth research funding and can be allocated national priority student places in fields such as nursing and education.
The amendment changed the rates of private and public funding for different disciplines, while adding new Commonwealth Supported Places.
[2] Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy at ANU, Andrew Norton highlighted three key flaws in the legislation; changes to student contributions won’t change student preferences, the new overall funding rates weaken university incentives, and the new Commonwealth contribution rates actually limit enrolment growth in the priority courses.