Over-reviewed and Underfunded? The evolving policy context of Australian higher education research and development

Major restructuring to the Australian higher education sector was initiated in 1988 withthe dismantling of the previous binary system and the introduction of the united national system. Sincethis time the sector has been the subject of continuous review by government and the policy and fundingframework for higher education research in particular has undergone a number of changes. After providingcontextual information regarding Australia and its R&D effort, this paper examines a number of majorreviews that have impacted on the higher education sector. Particular attention is directed to identifyingchanges in both policy and funding environment. It is argued that the crisis facing Australian universitiesis the result of not only inadequate funding but also an over-reliance by government on the market steeringof the sector.