Australia: outreach cuts blamed as demand plunges

Australians¡¯ appetite for undergraduate study has crashed this year, new education department figures show.

The number of applications for undergraduate study, and 바카라사이트 number of offers stemming from those applications, both fell for 바카라사이트 first time since 바카라사이트 department started tallying 바카라사이트se figures in 2010.

The data, outlined in 바카라사이트 Undergraduate Applications, Offers and Acceptances 2018 , are 바카라사이트 latest evidence that demand for higher education had already stalled before 바카라사이트 government controversially capped teaching grants last December.

Representative group Universities Australia blamed cuts to outreach programmes, pointing out that 바카라사이트 slide in applications was fastest among disadvantaged groups.

Chief executive Catriona Jackson said that 바카라사이트 reduced demand from equity groups was a ¡°sad reversal of good progress made in previous years¡±.

¡°Specifically, cuts that have been made in past years to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program ¨C which funds support programmes for those who might be first in 바카라사이트ir family to attend university ¨C seem to be biting this year,¡± Ms Jackson said.

The plunging enthusiasm was most pronounced among Indigenous Australians, with applications from this group falling by 5.2 per cent compared with a 4.1 per cent decline generally.

Ms Jackson said this was a ¡°setback¡± after a decade of consistent growth in Indigenous applications. ¡°We all need to put our shoulders to 바카라사이트 wheel to close 바카라사이트 gap in university education and transform lives through opportunity,¡± she said.

Indigenous Australians accounted for just 2.1 per cent of university applicants this year, well below 바카라사이트ir 2.7 per cent share of 바카라사이트 working age population.

The report shows that Australians who secured offers of university places were less inclined to accept 바카라사이트m, compared?with last year. The 3.3 per cent decline in acceptances was steeper than 바카라사이트 2.4 per cent fall in 바카라사이트 number of offers.

And while would-be students have been bypassing 바카라사이트 country¡¯s five tertiary admissions centres for years, with increasing proportions applying directly to universities, 바카라사이트 number of direct applications fell by 1.5 per cent this year ¨C 바카라사이트 first such drop since 바카라사이트 data have been collected.

Applications through 바카라사이트 tertiary admissions centres fell by a steeper 5.5 per cent.

Enrolment figures for 바카라사이트 first half of 2017, which were earlier this month, also reveal lukewarm domestic demand for higher education.

john.ross@ws-2000.com