Minister Harris commences the Higher Education Authority Act 2022 which will reform the higher education sector and modernise the role of the Higher Education Authority

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today commenced the Higher Education Authority Act 2022, which is a crucial part of the government’s agenda for the higher education sector.

The HEA Act will:

reduce the size of governing authorities in Higher Education Institutions to 19 members
strengthen the role of the Higher Education Authority
improve accountability and governance provisions for the higher education sector
amend the Student Support Act to provide for the administration of scholarships for disadvantaged students
amend the Industrial Training Act 1967 to permit statutory apprenticeships in the areas of agriculture, horticulture, or fishing

Speaking today, Minister Harris said:

"The enactment of the HEA Act is an important milestone. This legislation will mark a step-change in how our higher education sector is governed.

"It will ensure we have accountability and greater transparency over the significant public funds invested in higher education. But it is about more than that.

"It is about ensuring the sector can meet the demands facing it today."

As part of the part of the HEA Act 2022, governing authorities and bodies in universities, technological universities and institutes of technology will see their numbers reduce from up to 40 to a maximum of 19.

A 12 month transitionary period will begin from today, 10 November, for the new governing authorities to be appointed.