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During 2002, the Australian Education Minister conducted a year-long review of tertiary education under the title Higher Education at the Crossroads . The policy statement arising from that review was released on 13 May 2003. It incorporates a combination of new financial incentives on students and universities, potential expansion of full-fee places, and increased intrusion into university priority setting. The policy statement promised a $A1.5b expansion in funding over four years, with more fully-funded university places, and an emphasis on improving the quality of teaching and learning. The strategy is market-driven and could create a `fee-culture' in Australian universities. Implementation of the new policy is not assured as it has to pass a hostile Senate. The implementation process also carries risks for government and universities. This paper describes the government's proposals and analyses their premises and effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changed funding arrangements and views of education have resulted in a re-prioritization of activities and practices in Australian universities. While considerable research attention has been given to the consequences of these changes for university policies and the activities of academic staff, less attention has been given to how students perceive these changes. In this paper, undergraduate students’ experience of the commodification of higher education sector are explored. The evidence suggests that the changed context is beginning to affect how students perceive university priorities and their effects on teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]