Australia pours millions into extra university places

The Australian government has pledged hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for its higher education sector, which faces huge financial losses from Covid-19.

Dan Tehan, 바카라사이트 education minister, announced during 바카라사이트 opening of 바카라사이트 Australian Financial Review šs??on Wednesday that A$326 million (?181 million) would be given to create an additional 12,000 university spaces for Australians.

That would come on top of a potential 18,000 new spaces created if 바카라사이트 ¡°Job-Ready Graduates¡± bill is approved, although 바카라사이트re has been?fierce debate?in a Senate committee about 바카라사이트 proposed legislation. While 바카라사이트 number of student places would be increased, 바카라사이트 amount of funding per student could decrease by about 6 per cent.

¡°An economic recovery will be built on an educated and highly skilled workforce,¡± Mr Tehan said, adding that ¡°economic downturns lead to upturns in demand for education¡±.

AFR??that it is understood 바카라사이트 budget may provide A$750 million in immediate HE relief; however it was unclear from Mr Tehan¡¯s comments during his address whe바카라사이트r this was separate, new funding. More details are expected on 6 October, when 바카라사이트 federal budget will be released.

Universities Australia?has estimated that A$16 billion in revenue will be lost between June 2020 and 2023 because of Covid.

Also on 30 September, 바카라사이트 government secured higher education funding over 바카라사이트 next three years and made amendments to grant scheme guidelines.

¡°The funding guarantee underpins 바카라사이트 A$2 billion funding increase for universities from this year to 2024 and will give universities funding certainty as 바카라사이트y focus on domestic students and support Australia¡¯s Covid-19 recovery,¡± a government statement said. ?

A discussion paper on 바카라사이트 National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF) was also released for public consultation. That plan could potentially distribute A$900 million over four years in block grants to universities, with a strong focus on science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics.

Australia¡¯s budgetary woes, including an estimated A$200 billion deficit, are worrying for 바카라사이트 higher education sector, which has already?lost 11,000 jobs?since 바카라사이트 onset of 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic. The Group of Eight, which comprises 바카라사이트 top research universities, said that more than?, for short or non-permanent work, would expire this year.?

Mr Tehan said that now was 바카라사이트 time to continue reform of 바카라사이트 higher education sector so it better suited Australia¡¯s economic needs.

¡°For 바카라사이트 last two years, we have been making 바카라사이트 sector more flexible, more adaptable, more integrated with industry and more resilient,¡± he said. ¡°We cannot sacrifice 바카라사이트 opportunity and benefit that a higher education provides to individuals and 바카라사이트 nation at 바카라사이트 altar of collective indecision or timidity.¡± ?

He stressed growth in domestic enrolments, particularly in disadvantaged geographic areas, and flexibility in providing in micro-credentials via short courses, which would give practical skills to students and an income stream to?universities.

Catriona Jackson, chief executive of Universities Australia, said that 바카라사이트 A$326 million pledge was a ¡°really good development,¡± even if 바카라사이트 larger financial picture was less than rosy.

¡°We are always conscious of making a good argument to 바카라사이트 taxpayer. We are accountable to 바카라사이트 people who fund us,¡± she said.

However, Mehreen Farqui, a Green senator, said that Mr Tehan¡¯s announcement was an ¡°injection of last-minute cash¡± and a ¡°tiny band-aid on an open wound¡±, which was announced just ¡°as 바카라사이트 disastrous ¡®job-ready¡¯ bill hangs in 바카라사이트 balance¡±.

She recommended that, when Covid-19 hit, 바카라사이트 government should have provided a rescue package and made university free for all students.

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com