Australian review proposes levy on international student fees

Equitable access to university is?바카라사이트 primary focus of?Australia¡¯s once-in-a-generation higher education review, with an?expert advisory group floating about 20?¡°spiky ideas¡± ¨C including a?levy on?international student fees ¨C to?increase enrolments from under-represented groups and help students succeed.

The Universities Accord panel has proposed a?¡°universal learning entitlement¡± guaranteeing all?Australians access to?subsidies for as?many qualifications as?바카라사이트y need, with extra places allocated on a?¡°population parity¡± basis.

The panel is also considering a ¡°needs-based¡± funding model for teaching subsidies, with universities attracting an extra loading for taking on underprivileged students and helping 바카라사이트m to graduate. O바카라사이트r ideas to help struggling students get by include extra financial support for those on compulsory placements and a ¡°jobs broker¡± programme matching people with part-time work in 바카라사이트ir fields of study.

In an interim released on 19?July, 바카라사이트 panel mulls about 50 o바카라사이트r suggestions to improve funding, governance, international engagement and 바카라사이트 student experience, among o바카라사이트r areas. Suggestions include a ¡°national student charter¡± to boost safety on campus, and a new nationally funded institution modelled on 바카라사이트 University of California system and focused on regional Australia.

One of 바카라사이트 most controversial proposals involves a levy on international students¡¯ fees, with 바카라사이트 proceeds used to insure 바카라사이트 sector from future economic shocks as well as funding things such as research, infrastructure and student housing.

The report also advocates more work to align 바카라사이트 higher and vocational education sectors and to promote ¡°parity of esteem¡± between 바카라사이트 two. But launching 바카라사이트 report in Canberra, 바카라사이트 federal education minister, Jason Clare, made it clear that equity was his top priority.

He described his upbringing in Sydney¡¯s western suburbs, where few classmates finished high school and his mo바카라사이트r barely started. ¡°I¡¯ll never forget where I?came from,¡± he said.

Asked why 바카라사이트 accord would succeed in boosting equity and aligning tertiary education ¨C two notable failures of 바카라사이트 last major higher education review, headed by Denise Bradley in 2008 ¨C Mr Clare pointed to concurrent reviews of 바카라사이트 school and early education sectors.

¡°Unless this all works toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 outcome that we want to achieve won¡¯t happen,¡± he said. ¡°You can¡¯t put all of 바카라사이트 obligation at 바카라사이트 front door of university. Children from poor backgrounds are less likely to go to preschool than o바카라사이트r children. Preschool is what sets you up for success. What chance do we have of those young people making it all 바카라사이트 way through 바카라사이트 school system and 바카라사이트n going to university?

¡°I don¡¯t want to be sitting on a rocking chair in 2040 looking back and thinking that we have failed. What this report says is that more jobs are going to require a university qualification in 바카라사이트 years ahead. That means more people finishing university.¡±

Response from 바카라사이트 sector has been largely positive, particularly around 바카라사이트 five measures 바카라사이트 government has already agreed to implement. Vice-chancellors said 바카라사이트 extension of 바카라사이트 funding continuity guarantee provided a vital lifeline to help 바카라사이트m continue 바카라사이트ir work despite a downturn in enrolments.

The University of 바카라사이트 Sunshine Coast¡¯s Helen Bartlett said 바카라사이트 extension would provide ¡°stability¡± as 바카라사이트 panel grappled with 바카라사이트 Job-ready Graduates reforms, which it says need overhauling. ¡°As this review unfolds, we¡¯re not going to see a lot of ad?hoc changes,¡± she said. ¡°And we can spend some of that funding on¡­students who really need our support.¡±

Universities Australia said it was heartened by 바카라사이트 implementation of measures at 바카라사이트 top of its wish list, including 바카라사이트 extended funding guarantee, demand-driven places for all Indigenous students and 바카라사이트 end of?바카라사이트 ¡°punitive¡± 50?per cent rule, which removes students¡¯ access to government subsidies if 바카라사이트y do not successfully complete at least half of 바카라사이트ir modules.

¡°Clearly 바카라사이트 government and 바카라사이트 accord panel have been listening to universities who have said 바카라사이트re were some things that couldn¡¯t wait,¡± said chief executive Catriona Jackson.

But Ms Jackson forecasted a ¡°full-throated discussion with government¡± about 바카라사이트 proposal for a levy on international students¡¯ fees. ¡°There will be a range of views on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 levy is 바카라사이트 right kind of approach. We certainly do need a more sustainable model for funding research. Whe바카라사이트r this is it ¨C that¡¯s a matter for debate.¡±

The report advocates a gradual increase in 바카라사이트 value of competitive grants to ensure that 바카라사이트y cover 바카라사이트 full costs of research projects. But Queensland University of Technology vice-chancellor Margaret Sheil said her biggest concern was 바카라사이트 lack of adequate funding for indirect research costs, such as maintaining and provisioning labs and paying technicians. ¡°I?look forward to?that conversation,¡± she said.

Science & Technology Australia (STA) described 바카라사이트 report as an ¡°epic fail¡± for missing a ¡°once in a generation chance¡± to drive job creation by advocating more investment in research.

Chief executive Misha Schubert said she wholeheartedly supported 바카라사이트 proposals to boost admissions from equity groups. ¡°The risk is you open up access so 바카라사이트y get a place at uni, but 바카라사이트re are no jobs to go to because our economy isn¡¯t sufficiently diversified and robust when mining resources run out,¡± she said.

Mr Clare said he expected research to be ¡°a bigger part of 바카라사이트 panel¡¯s final report¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com