Higher education and tertiary policy
The department engages with the higher education sector on policy, programs, and strategy on behalf of NSW Government, and administers legislation for the NSW public universities.
The higher education sector in NSW
NSW has 10 public universities with campuses in over 25 locations and 58 private and not-for-profit providers. The department plays a critical role in administering the legislative responsibilities of the state's public universities as well as ensuring ongoing engagement with the NSW Vice Chancellor's Committee, other states, territories and the Commonwealth on policy and implementation issues.
Our role
The Department of Education:
- develops policy related to higher education in NSW
- manages stakeholder relations with universities, including strategic engagement with the NSW Vice Chancellors’ Committee and its subcommittees, on behalf of NSW Government
- supports legislative responsibilities relating to higher education, including the university governing bodies appointment process
- represent the interests of NSW universities and higher education providers in national forums.
We regularly engage with other government agencies, states and territories, and the Commonwealth on policy and implementation issues.
University governance
The 10 NSW public universities and their governing bodies are formed under acts of parliament. These acts cover the objects and functions of the universities and their responsibilities to the public.
The Minister for Skills and Training is accountable to the NSW Parliament for the use of ministerial powers relating to university governing bodies, and the department plays a critical role in administering the legislative responsibilities of the state's public universities.
These university acts can be accessed via the following links:
- Charles Sturt UniversityExternal link
- Macquarie UniversityExternal link
- Southern Cross UniversityExternal link
- University of New EnglandExternal link
- University of NewcastleExternal link
- University of NSWExternal link
- University of SydneyExternal link
- University of Technology SydneyExternal link
- University of WollongongExternal link
- Western Sydney UniversityExternal link
Universities are largely funded by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Universities are governed by Commonwealth legislation under the Higher Education Support ActExternal link, and higher education providers are accredited and regulated by the Commonwealth government through the Tertiary Education Standards AuthorityExternal link.
Strategic engagement
The department leads the NSW Government’s Public Partnerships for Public Benefit: the NSW Higher Education Strategy 2025−29 (PDF 6.62 MB), working across the entire education sector and all parts of government.
The strategy will guide NSW Government engagement with the higher education sector for the next 5 years. The strategy was informed by extensive stakeholder consultation.
Vision: to foster public partnerships that build a thriving and sustainable higher education sector that meets the needs of students and the state.
The key aims of the NSW Higher Education Strategy include:
- Supporting current and future NSW skill and workforce needs
- Building capabilities for students to navigate post-school and lifelong learning pathways
- Improving equity outcomes in higher education
- Enabling the use of shared assets, expertise and research for the public good.
Read the strategy (PDF 6.62 MB).
Each year of the strategy, an annual reporting and planning cycle will be undertaken to measure progress on actions and outcomes, and to identify new in-scope projects and programs that further the strategy's vision.
The department engages with the higher education sector in a variety of other ways, too. Learn more about our strategic projects and initiatives in higher education.