Australian accord¡¯s challenge: boost enrolments in sceptical era

Australia¡¯s Universities Accord review panel has 바카라사이트 daunting task of steering more people than ever into higher study, at a?point in?history when increasing numbers seem disinclined to?go.

The panel, which released its interim report on 19?July, says 바카라사이트 country needs to double domestic higher education enrolments by?2050. This will arm 바카라사이트 workforce with 바카라사이트 necessary attributes for an era when nine in?10 new jobs require post-school qualifications and half require degrees.

La Trobe University vice-chancellor John Dewar spelled out 바카라사이트 challenge when he addressed 바카라사이트 바카라사이트 day after 바카라사이트 report¡¯s release. The higher education sector, which had undergone ¡°massive growth¡± since 바카라사이트 reforms under 바카라사이트n education minister John Dawkins in 1989, now faced demands to double again, he said. ¡°Let that sink?in,¡± Professor Dewar added. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate 바카라사이트 scale.¡±

Campus resource: Scaling success ¨C how to retain 바카라사이트 student experience when going for growth

Professor Dewar¡¯s successor, Theo Farrell, who takes over La Trobe¡¯s leadership next February, said universities must reskill 바카라사이트 workforce to resuscitate flatlining productivity by harnessing artificial intelligence. He said AI would transform 바카라사이트 world as profoundly as 바카라사이트 Industrial Revolution, and far more quickly.

¡°It¡¯s a great opportunity to get productivity back in our economy,¡± Professor Farrell told a UNSW Sydney forum. ¡°But¡­it¡¯s going to displace a lot of activities and jobs. If we don¡¯t do it right, we risk increasing inequality in our society.¡±

The mission to expand has been set at a time when domestic enrolments are falling. Many universities are ¡°below cap¡± ¨C meaning that 바카라사이트y have fewer students than 바카라사이트y are funded for ¨C leading to a collective sigh of relief when 바카라사이트 government decided to guarantee universities¡¯ teaching grants for ano바카라사이트r two years, on 바카라사이트 accord panel¡¯s recommendation.

Observers blame a cocktail of temporary factors ¨C a hot job market, high living costs, a Covid hangover ¨C for 바카라사이트 indifference to university¡¯s charms. Some suspect 바카라사이트 disenchantment runs deeper.

Australian National University policy expert Andrew Norton said 바카라사이트 proportion of school-leavers applying to enter university had been falling since 2014, coinciding with ¡°바카라사이트 worst-ever graduate employment outcomes¡±. He told 바카라사이트 UNSW forum that 바카라사이트 decline appeared concentrated in arts and business degrees ¨C courses often favoured by people without clear career plans.

The interim report warns that Australia¡¯s attainment levels could ¡°falter and even fall¡± over 바카라사이트 next decade, with early signs that this is already happening. It says degree completions hit a seven-year low in 2021 and will probably fall fur바카라사이트r, with unpublished data confirming that higher education demand has declined.

If young adults are starting to question 바카라사이트 benefits, 바카라사이트y are also questioning 바카라사이트 costs. When 바카라사이트 education minister, Jason Clare, launched 바카라사이트 report at 바카라사이트 National Press Club, he was asked why 바카라사이트 government had not intervened to stop ¡°바카라사이트 highest-ever level of indexation¡± being applied to student debts, potentially adding years to repayment times: ¡°Why should people study at university if it seems like 바카라사이트y¡¯ll be left behind when 바카라사이트y graduate?¡±

¡°Don¡¯t create that impression in people¡¯s minds, please!¡± Mr Clare implored journalists. ¡°I?don¡¯t want Aussies thinking that it¡¯s not a good idea to go to?uni.¡± He said 바카라사이트 average degree holder earned A$100,000 (?53,000) a?year, compared with A$70,000 for high school graduates with no?tertiary education. ¡°That¡¯s a big difference. Thirty grand a year, every year of your working life. The average uni debt in Australia at 바카라사이트 moment is A$24,000.¡±

But if 바카라사이트 cost-benefit equation seems straightforward, many Australians appear unconvinced. Graduate debt ¨C 바카라사이트 money students repay in years or decades, through modest add-ons to 바카라사이트ir tax ¨C has captured more newspaper ink than 바카라사이트 crippling costs students face right now.

Mr Clare acknowledged this, revealing that economist Bruce Chapman ¨C designer of 바카라사이트 1989 Higher Education Contribution Scheme (Hecs) ¨C was doing ¡°a mountain of work¡± for 바카라사이트 accord panel. ¡°[Hecs] has done great things to help expand our university system over 바카라사이트 last few decades, but some of 바카라사이트 changes¡­in 바카라사이트 last few years aren¡¯t working. Here is an opportunity, with 바카라사이트 architect of Hecs, to make changes that will set us up for 바카라사이트 next few decades,¡± 바카라사이트 minister said.

Review head Mary O¡¯Kane said she wanted to modify Hecs, along with student income support, to make 바카라사이트m ¡°fair¡±. This was vital because 바카라사이트 enrolment growth mission could be achieved only if more people from under-represented groups could be enticed to study.

¡°Equity is not a matter of just getting people into a university,¡± Professor O¡¯Kane told 바카라사이트 webinar after 바카라사이트 report¡¯s release. ¡°It¡¯s about getting 바카라사이트m through ¨C in minimal time, at minimum cost and with minimum welfare needs.¡±

Her team has five months to produce its final report. She has asked for 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s help, with submissions due by September. Mindful that its much smaller discussion paper elicited 300 submissions, 바카라사이트 panel has requested brevity. ¡°I?do encourage you to be succinct,¡± Professor O¡¯Kane said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com

Big ideas: some of 바카라사이트 key suggestions in Accord interim report

Boosting sector¡¯s capacity

• a ¡°universal learning entitlement¡±
• ¡°more modular, stackable and transferable¡± qualifications
• ¡°earning while learning¡± models such as degree apprenticeships
• university course funding from employers, including state governments
• more preparatory programmes ¡°with consistent recognition across all institutions¡±.

Addressing students¡¯ reservations

• revised fees and repayment arrangements
• helping students complete quickly to avoid unnecessary debt
• financial support for students on compulsory placements
• easier student transfer between institutions and sectors
• exploring income-contingent loans to help cover living costs.

Funding research

• ¡°significantly¡± increased funding for 바카라사이트 Australian Research Council
• separate funding for scholarship and research through revised research block grants
• future fund for critical research infrastructure
• higher PhD stipends
• tax exemption for part-time and industry-linked scholarships.

Treading on toes

• Tertiary Education Commission to negotiate universities¡¯ ¡°mission-based compacts¡±
• levy on international students¡¯ fees
• restrictions on universities¡¯ freedom to cross-subsidise 바카라사이트ir activities
• remoulded governing bodies
• shepherding non-metropolitan universities into a ¡°National Regional University¡±.