The issue of only two international research universities had far less saliency. The Alliance saw the issue being handled by a National Commission. Mauri Pacific and NZ First suggested that institutional mergers were helpful, and ACT argued that the government had no role to play in this. The need for quality assurance methods that work, have observable outcomes and accommodate emergent outcomes, was a key issue for many, especially the relationship between methodology and its costs. Greater contestability, transparency and responsiveness were, he said, vital.
Markets work because marginal consumers exercise rigorous judgements about quality.
We also need input accountability, measures of the effectiveness of processes, and to limit personal accountability to areas under direct control. We need to acknowledge first the transformative power of education, especially for those disadvantaged. I also hate paternalism but I want all to have access to knowledge, to life chances. And accountability has to be about delivering on shared responsibilities, with measurement less important ultimately than quality experiences and opportunity. A related issue raised was the marginalisation of Pacifika, despite the demographic press.