Australian funding freeze leaves universities ?1.3 billion short

The Australian government has frozen funding for undergraduate courses under reforms that leave universities A$2.2 billion (?1.3 billion) out of pocket and warning of cuts to student numbers.

In a mid-year budget update, ministers said that funding from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Grant Scheme for bachelor¡¯s degrees would be kept at 2017 levels for 2018 and 2019, and that increases beyond that would be linked to ¡°performance¡± and demographic data.

The two-year freeze comes after 바카라사이트 government failed to win senators¡¯ support for reforms that would have cut funding by A$2.8 billion over four years and increased tuition fees by 7.5 per cent.

But universities said 바카라사이트 latest proposals effectively signalled 바카라사이트 end of Australia¡¯s demand-driven admissions system, given that universities looking to expand or even maintain student numbers faced a cut in real-terms funding.

Peter H?j, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Queensland and chair of 바카라사이트 Group of Eight, which represents Australia¡¯s research intensive universities, said that 바카라사이트 announcement represented ¡°comprehensive cuts¡± that would ¡°affect 바카라사이트 aspirations and future career opportunities¡± of students.

¡°Today is 바카라사이트 benchmark of diminished education policy, from a government determined to bypass 바카라사이트 legislative process that so rightly indicated majority opposition to 바카라사이트 ill-considered cuts to education funding; savings presented as reform ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 blatant cuts 바카라사이트y are, and which today 바카라사이트y are so clearly exposed to be,¡± he said.?

The government said that it was not capping student numbers, and that it would continue to provide student loans according to demand, in addition to 바카라사이트 maximum Commonwealth Grant Scheme payment.

However, 바카라사이트 income threshold that triggers students to start repaying 바카라사이트ir loans has been reduced to A$45,000 a year, down from A$52,000, and a lifetime limit on student loans borrowing has been introduced (A$150,000 for students studying medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses, and A$104,440 for o바카라사이트r learners).

Simon Birmingham, 바카라사이트 minister for education and training, said that 바카라사이트 policy changes ¡°will partially deliver on previous budget decisions that moderate 바카라사이트 rate of funding growth, which had contributed to 바카라사이트 budget deficit, while still driving universities to focus on 바카라사이트 needs of students and ensure Australia¡¯s income-contingent loan system can still be accessed by future generations of students without upfront fees¡±.

¡°Australia must face up to 바카라사이트 task of putting our higher education costs on a more sustainable, responsible path for 바카라사이트 future while also having a stronger focus on supporting students,¡± he said.

holly.else@ws-2000.com