Universities have welcomed the federal government's decision to change the name of one of its portfolios to acknowledge the higher education sector.
Some education and student groups have been upset that responsibilities for teaching, learning and research under the re-elected Labor government would be shared among three ministers.
Representatives from the universities sector were particularly worried that their interests would fall under a portfolio called jobs, skills and workplace relations.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Monday said there would be no change to the name despite the worries, but less than 24 hours later Senator Chris Evans' round was changed to begin with the words `tertiary education'.
Universities Australia chief executive Glenn Withers lobbied Ms Gillard to change the name and was pleased she had responded.
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"We are pleased to have a titling distraction out of the way, but it was a titling issue that was very important to people within universities," Dr Withers told AAP on Tuesday.
"You'd be surprised at the extent of concern expressed over this issue across the whole of the university system."
'Narrow concept of education'
Dr Withers said the portfolio's original name unfairly tied the benefits of higher education to simply filling job vacancies.
"Behind the words are policies," he said.
"If you have a very narrow conception of education - that is short-term labour market needs - you will be producing a very different Australia, for instance, than one that is about personal
growth and flexible thinking."
Dr Withers said the sector and the minister for tertiary education, jobs, skills and workplace relations could now get back to focusing on policies affecting universities.
He also took a positive view of Labor's decision to have education responsibilities handled by Senator Evans, Peter Garrett and Senator Kim Carr.
"We're very happy to work with that, we think it could be made to work well," Dr Withers said.
"We see that as three strong ministers supporting education ... and we think that's a good step forward."
Senator Evans said he and Ms Gillard agreed to address the sector's concerns and change the portfolio's name before ministers were sworn in at Government House in Canberra later on Tuesday.
"While I think it is more a question of what you do and what you deliver than what you are called, I thought it was reasonable to respond to that," Senator Evans told ABC Radio.
Senator Evans said the division of responsibilities, which will see Mr Garrett taking on early childhood education and schools, and Kim Carr retaining research, was a win for educators and students.
"Sure, you need a vision across all sectors, but the government will provide that overarching vision," he said.
"What we are doing is making sure we have a lot of resources, a lot of drive, and hopefully a lot of talent focused on the challenge."
