ABSTRACT
Arising from concerns about apparent variations in standards and criteria for the award of degrees, the Academic Standards Program of the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee was established in 1987. Panels of academics were formed in physics, history, psychology, economics, computer science, English and biochemistry, to monitor standards in honours courses across the universities. Now, in the framework of a unified national system of Australian universities, the task of some panels has been extended on a trial basis to cover all undergraduate programmes in each discipline. Drawing on his personal involvement with the programme, the author evaluates these developments, assesses the strengths and limitations of this approach to public accountability, and anticipates possible future developments.
