What now? What next? Insights into Australia's tertiary education sector
Claire Field talks with leaders and experts from within the Australian tertiary education sector and across the global ed-tech sector
Episodes
In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by Assoc. Prof. Mark Bassett, Director Academic Quality, Standards and Integrity at Charles Sturt University to discuss generative AI, AI detection tools and how institutions can help their staff safely use GenAI tools.
During the interview Assoc. Prof. Bassett discusses the following:
- S.E.C.U.R.E Framework: https://secureframework.ai
- AI detectors in education: https://tinyurl.com/...
In this episode Claire is joined by QUT's Prof. Gavin Nicholson to discuss his submission to the Senate Committee's inquiry into university governance.
If you want to read a copy of Prof. Nicholson's submission (Submission 21) - you can find it at: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Education_and_Employment/UniversityGovernance/Submissions
In this episode Claire is joined by QUT's Dr Natasha Arthars to discuss her recent research on VET in Schools enrolments and the questions that arise for students labour market prospects and future study pathways.
Dr Arthar's research paper can be accessed at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1360080X.2025.2478962
The OECD research Claire mentions on high school students' career aspirations is available at...
In this episode Claire unpacks some of the changes happening in the tertiary sector as both regulators (ASQA and TEQSA) start thinking about how AI is changing the world of work and what that means for what providers teach.
Claire references the following reports, frameworks and research in the episode:
- NSW Audit Office (2025) Universities 2024 https://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/our-work/reports/universities-2024
- TEQSA GenAI toolkit: ht...
In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by the Vice Chancellor of Charles Sturt University, Prof. Renée Leon to discuss why funding for universities, and not institutional governance, is the biggest issue facing the sector. Prof. Leon also points out the substantial challenges facing regional universities and their students - who are often first-in-family, low SES, mature age and First Nations students needing much greater ...
In this episode of the podcast Claire speaks with Emeritus Prof. Erica Smith on the state of apprenticeships in Australia and how a raft of recent reforms are privileging traditional male trades over apprenticeships/traineeships in feminised industries.
Claire and Erica discuss the recent Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System and the government's interim response to the review.
In this episode Claire gives a summary of the submissions to the Senate Committee's inquiry into the Quality of governance at Australian higher education providers.
During the episode Claire references her interview in episode 123 with NTEU representatives Emily Foley and Tony Williams about their experiences working as casual academics in Australian universities.
The submissions to the Senate Committee's inquiry can all be...
In this episode Claire speaks with Adam Kilburn, CEO of NEAS Australia.
They discuss:
- NEAS' 2025 conference: https://neas.org.au/conference-25/
- The ASEAN Australia Education Dialogue: https://www.aseanaustraliadialogue.com/aaed-2024
- Claire's initial analysis of the Coalition's proposed international student caps: https://clairefield.com.au/unpacking-the-coalitions-plans-for-international-education/
- Further analysis b...
In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by Jobs and Skills Australia's Deputy Commissioners, Trevor Gauld and Megan Lilly.
There are references throughout their conversation to a number of JSA reports and data available on the JSA website. If you don't already visit the site regularly then these links may be useful to you:
- Monthly labour market data at the regional level: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/em...
In this episode of the podcast, Claire is joined by RMIT University's Deputy Vice Chancellor Vocational Education and Vice President, Mish Eastman. Mish explains how the university's College of Vocational Education is partnering with Australian and international businesses and governments to deliver impact for learners.
During the episode Mish references:
- RMIT's new 'Earn and Learn' model: https://www.rmi...
In this episode Claire is joined by the Vice Chancellor of Western Sydney University, Prof. George Williams.
Prof. Williams' Meanjin article is available at: https://meanjin.com.au/essays/a-university-not-a-corporation/
And you can email admin@clairefield.com.au if you're interested in a one month free trial of Claire's regular analysis and updates on the tertiary sector.
Contact Claire:
In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by researcher and educational designer Dr Selena Chan from Ara Institute of Technology. She explains the incredible work being done in New Zealand to help their VET (and higher education) sectors grapple with GenAI.
If you don't regularly attend the annual AVETRA Conference - then you're missing out on hearing from great researchers like Dr Chan. Details on this year's c...
In this episode of the podcast Dr Rocco Guarnaccia joins Claire to discuss his research on commercial, for-profit, providers. He shares his insights into which RTOs are likely to thrive and which will struggle as the sector continues to change.
Rocco's thesis is available at: https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/items/5de8508e-cc37-49f3-ace6-dcd7e8512dd5
The government media release on 'ghost colleges&a...
In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by two casual academics, Emily Foley and Tony Williams, who also hold positions at the National Tertiary Education Union. Emily and Tony share their personal experiences and those of others in the sector and what the highly casualised, precarious nature of their employment means.
The articles and reports mentioned in the podcast are listed below - but before you get to them, ...
In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by Prof Himashu Rai from the Indian Institute of Management Indore. What IIM Indore is doing to educate the next generation of Indian business leaders and engineers has to be heard to be believed.
If you want to know more about IIM Indore - their website is: https://iimidr.ac.in/ and you can find Prof. Rai on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/askhimanshurai/
Contact Cl...
In this special episode of the podcast, Claire is joined by Dirk Mulder, founder and CEO of The Koala News and Tracy Harris, Principal, Tracy Harris Solutions to discuss where the international education sector stands now that the government's legislative changes to amend the ESOS Act look unlikely to be passed by the Senate.
The podcast is the audio recording of a webinar Claire, Dirk and Tracy hosted. If you want to...
In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by Chemène Sinson and Maria Langwell to discuss the Revised Standards and why it's important that the Standards should still include a definition of 'competency', why there is a need for proper education and support for RTOs during this transition, and how training providers can map their existing practices to the new Standards.
If you haven't seen the Rev...
On this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by two VET leaders helping shape VET's response to changes in the way work is done in the construction industry: Jason Jennings from the ACT's Construction Industry Training Council and Eve Price from ConCOVE (New Zealand's Construction & Infrastructure Centre of Vocational Excellence).
You can find out more about ConCOVE at: https://concove.ac.nz and about...
In this episode Claire steps through the following changes the Australian government is looking to make to international education:
In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by the President of the Digital Education Council, Danny Bielik to discuss the work of the Council and how education is changing and what that means for institutions. During their conversation they discuss:
- a recent global survey conducted by the Council on students' views and use of AI in education: https://www.digitaleducationcouncil.com/post/digital-education-council-global...
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