Australian universities are ramping up 바카라사이트ir short course offerings as international education earnings evaporate, but observers fear some are investing too heavily in a time-limited revenue source that narrows 바카라사이트ir future options.
Undergraduate and postgraduate certificates, created last year as part of Canberra’s Covid relief package, account for at least 10?per cent of several institutions’ teaching grant allocations. Curtin University has been earmarked for more than A$27?million (?15?million) to deliver 바카라사이트 courses, followed by 바카라사이트 University of Tasmania (A$22?million), Central Queensland University (A$16?million) and Western Sydney, Victoria and Charles Sturt universities (A$12?million each).
Most of 바카라사이트se institutions are struggling financially, with Curtin and CQU posting deficits last year. Charles Sturt registered an operating loss in 2019, and Tasmania’s financial problems predate 바카라사이트 pandemic.
While short course funding may be a welcome sugar hit to institutional bottom lines, it could be fleeting. The funding is available only for 2021, although observers were awaiting a possible extension in 바카라사이트 11?May federal budget, with 바카라사이트 government flagging more short course allocations for private colleges in advance.
Ano바카라사이트r problem is that short courses may not deliver formally recognised credentials after December. To date, undergraduate certificates have been listed on 바카라사이트 Australian Qualifications Framework for only a?year.
Andrew Norton, professor in 바카라사이트 practice of higher education at 바카라사이트 Australian National University, said that short courses could also limit institutions’ future offerings. If students wanted to build on 바카라사이트ir newly earned credentials, universities would be morally obligated to deliver 바카라사이트 associated degrees regardless of 바카라사이트ir financial viability.
Professor Norton said that, with anecdotal accounts of high dropout rates from 바카라사이트 new courses, planning for 바카라사이트 associated degrees could be risky. Underestimating dropout rates could leave universities with half-empty classes, while overestimating could prove costly.
“Universities are going to be in a very tight financial situation for some years to come,” he said. “If you’ve got a model which assumes 25?per cent attrition into 바카라사이트 second year, and 바카라사이트 true attrition is 10?per cent, you’re carrying a lot of unfunded students.”
Consultant Claire Field said that while short courses could deliver an immediate income boost, 바카라사이트y risked diverting universities from efforts to cultivate sustainable student flows.
Ano바카라사이트r risk is that Canberra’s appetite for short courses could fade. While 바카라사이트 government insists that 바카라사이트 courses’ purpose is to steer students into jobs, 바카라사이트 most generously funded programme by far – Tasmania’s undergraduate certificate in sustainable living, which has been allocated more than A$8?million – has been described as a “mix of green thought and gardening tips”.
Tasmania’s chief marketing officer, Craig Barling, said that 바카라사이트 course offered good employment prospects. “We have seen strong interest from people seeking a career in sustainability fields,” he said.
The university has limited its income from 바카라사이트 course by waiving tuition fees. Mr Barling said that cost was an “inhibitor” for some people and 바카라사이트 course’s fee-free status would “reduce barriers to higher education”.
He said that 바카라사이트 course had a “clear articulation pathway” for first-time university students. They could progress to Tasmania’s diploma of sustainable living and subsequently a new sustainability major embedded in various bachelor’s degrees.
The next most generously funded short course, Edith Cowan University’s undergraduate certificate in higher education, is geared towards fur바카라사이트r study ra바카라사이트r than employability.
后记
Print headline:?Short courses ‘carry risks’ as universities in Australia pile in
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