Achieving 'settlement' : negotiation of new national 'quality' policy for higher education in a context of globalisation

The establishment of the national Australian Universities' Quality Agency (AUQA) in 2001 represents a new 'settlement' on quality policy in Australian higher education. The importance of international markets was the major stimulus for new quality policy. This paper elucidates key negotiations between major stakeholder groups over the production of this new quality policy text, and it emphasises the political dynamics involved as the national policy text accommodates pressures from both 'global' and 'local' levels. The central core of the paper is based on empirical data gathered through interviews with members of the new AUQA Board. The AUQA members' perspectives of global and international influences, national policy production processes, and early institutional responses are reported and analysed within the context of the literature and practice in this area internationally. It is important to emphasise that this paper reflects only one set of perspectives, and that there will inevitably be alternative interpretations of the policy process from different groups of policy actors, as further highlighted in the final discussion.