The Dawkins Reforms, Western Australian Universities and their Education Faculties 1986-2000

Addressing acute economic challenges in the mid to late 1980s, the tertiary education reforms of Commonwealth Education Minister John Dawkins were unprecedented in their scope. To create economies of scale and a more highly skilled workforce, the binary system of universities and Colleges of Advanced Education ended, with the CAEs amalgamating to become universities or being taken over by existing universities. Full-fee paying international students were admitted in large numbers and free university education for domestic students ended. Lecturers across the sector were now required to carry out research on a sustained basis - as well as teach larger classes. Employment uncertainty added to their concerns. Education faculties were particularly exposed. Unlike business, educational studies did not attract international students, and limited job opportunities in schools dampened domestic undergraduate demand. However, the in-service needs of practising teachers provided a much-needed lifeline.