What Australia can learn from South Africa’s higher education equity and funding journey: Critical considerations

This presentation explores what Australia can learn from South Africa’s higher education equity reforms as it prepares to implement the Universities Accord. Through a comparative case study, several key insights emerge. First, Australia must manage growth carefully to avoid reproducing inequality through rising student debt—a warning clearly illustrated by South Africa’s experience. Second, South Africa’s nested equity approach—addressing both race and socio-economic status—offers a valuable model for tackling intersecting disadvantage more effectively. Lastly, Australia could expand its policy thinking by strengthening epistemic access, improving tuition debt arrangements, and repositioning Recognition of Prior Learning as a tool for social justice as key takeaways from South Africa’s equity policy journey. This research encourages the continuation and expansion of the equity alliance between Australia and South Africa to achieve fairer, more inclusive higher education systems.