An interim report that focuses on the accountability and transparency of decision making within universities, remuneration of vice-chancellors and other senior executives, and the appropriateness of Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency's (TEQSA) powers. 

There has been a growing focus on university governance in Australia with a range of issues highlighted by both the Australian Universities Accord (Accord) process, as well as the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman's focus on underpayment trends in the university sector. Concerns have also been raised in relation to the transparency of university decision-making and the management of potential conflicts of interest.

The report examines:

• university governance arrangements in Australia
• the accountability and transparency of university decision-making
• the number of elected staff and student council members and their experiences as council members
• the management of potential conflicts of interest
• the remuneration of senior university executives
• opportunities to strengthen TEQSA's powers.

The report makes 12 recommendations.

Key recommendations

• Universities improve the transparency and accountability of their governing bodies.
• TEQSA's regulatory mechanisms to enforce these transparency and accountability practices are considered alongside the current process to modernise and strengthen TEQSA's powers.
• Universities adopt best-practice and meaningful consultation for major change proposals, including involvement from staff and students prior to decisions being made.
• The Australian Government work with the Remuneration Tribunal and states and territories to devise a mechanism or framework of classification structures and remuneration ranges to determine vice-chancellors' and senior executives' remuneration.
• Universities set and implement a minimum proportion of members with public administration and higher education expertise on university governing bodies.
• Universities set and implement a minimum proportion of elected representatives (staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students) on governing bodies.
• Universities ensure equal and respectful treatment of elected staff and students on governing bodies.
• TEQSA take steps to improve governance reporting requirements to enable it to identify and mitigate risk across the university sector, including public reporting on the results of its compliance processes.