Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee
Inquiry into enhancing Victorian university governance
Referred (Terms of Reference)
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Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee
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Terms of reference
The terms of reference are instructions which explain what a committee has been asked to do, what topics it should focus on, and how its members will work together to achieve its shared goals.
On 3 December 2025, the Legislative Assembly agreed to the following motion:
That this House refers an inquiry into enhancing Victorian university governance through:
(a) greater accountability, transparency, and elevated community, staff and student voice at the highest governance level; and
(b) implementing the Principles of the Expert Council on University Governance; and the agreed priorities of the Commonwealth, State and Territory ministers responsible for higher education; and
(c) when considering the distinctive objectives of each university, the Committee will inquire into the ways by which universities are giving, and intend to give, effect, in a timely fashion, to the Final Report of the Expert Council on University Governance, with specific reference to how each university will:
(i) strengthen accountability for university performance and outcomes;
(ii) increase the transparency and representation of university council appointment processes, composition and decision-making;
(iii) support councils with greater higher education expertise and a range of staff, student and community perspectives and representation; and
(iv) ensure that university council decision-making is inclusive of and responsive to staff, students and other stakeholders
to the Economy and Infrastructure Standing Committee for consideration and report no later than 31 May 2026.