Grant Edwards: Universities NZ Chair on the Government's tertiary refresh

The Government's tertiary refresh has sparked conversation around whether the country's dumbing down the sector. 

Universities Minister Shane Reti's announced a package of initiatives, including a new education strategy and updated governance rules. 

He decided against making university entrance harder. 

Universities NZ chair Grant Edwards told Andrew Dickens there's no need for more limits on who can hand out the top academic qualifications. 

He says universities are the only institutions to do research-led teaching in the country, so research-led Masters and PhDs should be awarded within them. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So a push to make our universities more elite has
been shot down. The government's rejected tougher entry rules and
limits on who can hand out masters or doctorates. It's
accepted just twenty three of sixty three recommendations from a
report from the University Advisory Group led by Peter Gluckman.
So to talk about this, let's talk to an educator.
Grant Edwards is the vice chancellor of Lincoln University and

(00:22):
the university's New Zealand Chair and joins me this morning.
Good morning to your Grant, Good morning Andrew. Do you
think we need more limits on who can hand out
our top academic qualifications?

Speaker 2 (00:35):
No, I don't think we need further limits. Universities are
the tertiary institutions that do research led teaching in New Zealand,
and so believe that research only masters and research PSDs
should be awarded in universities.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
But it's also those other universities that hand out all
sorts of masters and all sorts of other things that
makes the people make the accusation that we've been dumbing
down out to sector.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Yeah, there's there's In terms of the higher degrees in
the postgraduate space, we have a range of taught masters
in particular and postgraduate qualifications. I think there I don't
think there's any indication that those other institutes are actually
dumbing down in handing out those particular qualifications. As particular

(01:24):
interest here is in research masters and research PhDs, which
with universities being research led, there's important place that they're
awarded in universities.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
Okay, well that was that was my next question. Should
universities be the only ones that can award masters and PhDs?

Speaker 2 (01:44):
I think, as I indicated to you, the in particular
research masters and PhDs should be in general awarded by
the universities in New Zealand. Okay.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
I heard Sandra Gray on our news this morning at
five am saying the real problem for our tertiary sector
is the funding model. Would you agree?

Speaker 2 (02:09):
In terms of the funding model, there are many funding
systems around the world, and most end up with some
form of a private government funding contributions similar to us.
We can always look at our funding system and how
funding is distributed and how it's both education and research
funding is directed towards qualifications particular disciplines. However, present probably

(02:32):
a long slow reduction in funding in real terms is
acting against the long term needs of the country and
probably just simply making changes in how we manage a
diminishing pool of funding won't serve universities all the country
well in the longer term.

Speaker 1 (02:51):
All right, Gret Edwards, I thank you so much time
grants the vice Chances of Lincoln University and from Universities
New Zealand. For more Familily Edition with Ryan and Bridge.
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