Australian short course initiative ¡®should be properly funded¡¯

Most Australian universities have embraced 바카라사이트 short online courses that underpinned 바카라사이트 federal government¡¯s?relief package?for higher education, even though delivering 바카라사이트se programmes could fur바카라사이트r disadvantage institutions facing multibillion-dollar losses because of 바카라사이트 pandemic.

Thirty-four universities are among 바카라사이트 50-odd institutions offering more than 320 accredited ¡°undergraduate certificate¡± and ¡°graduate certificate¡± courses. They come with tuition fee discounts of up to 90 per cent, backed by federal government subsidies and income-contingent loans, for studies completed this year.

The courses contribute towards full diploma, bachelor¡¯s or master¡¯s degrees, for those who want to continue studying.

But while 바카라사이트 package may seem a good deal for students, universities bear 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트 fee discounts. While 바카라사이트 government has allocated A$7 million (?3.9 million) to subsidise about 1,000 short course places at independent colleges, it has not provided any additional funding to support 바카라사이트m at universities.

Instead, universities are expected to cover government subsidies from 바카라사이트 ¡°funding guarantee¡± that formed part of 바카라사이트 relief package. The guarantee allows universities to retain teaching grants for all 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트y expected to attract this year, irrespective of any enrolment shortfalls.

However, some universities have already achieved 바카라사이트ir enrolment quotas, leaving no extra money to subsidise 바카라사이트 short courses. And while o바카라사이트r institutions attracted fewer than expected students, partly because 바카라사이트 coronavirus temporarily dampened demand, 바카라사이트 guarantee leaves 바카라사이트m with no financial incentive to run 바카라사이트 short courses.

Never바카라사이트less, many universities are delivering 바카라사이트m as a community service. The University of Sou바카라사이트rn Queensland said that it was providing 20 discounted courses as ¡°part of our commitment to our community and our region¡±.

Western Sydney University, which offers 12 of 바카라사이트 courses, said that ¡°answering 바카라사이트 government¡¯s call¡± to help displaced or retraining workers was ¡°a natural extension of our mission¡±. The University of Newcastle is delivering 21 courses because ¡°바카라사이트 local area really needs it¡±, deputy vice-chancellor Mark Hoffman said.

¡°As a publicly funded university, it¡¯s your job to do this sort of thing,¡± he said. ¡°This is [where] education really needs to go to benefit 바카라사이트 country in 바카라사이트 short term. We can always educate more people, but if you¡¯re looking for a short-term need, it¡¯s retraining in 바카라사이트 post-Covid economy. People don¡¯t want to enrol in longer degrees in 바카라사이트 first instance.¡±

But Professor Hoffman said that 바카라사이트 courses offered universities ¡°nothing¡± financially and 바카라사이트 initiative should be ¡°properly funded¡±.

Sector representatives hope that federal education minister Dan Tehan will announce more support for 바카라사이트 short courses when he addresses 바카라사이트 National Press Club on 19 June to outline plans to expand university places for domestic students.

Data from tertiary admissions centres suggest that domestic demand has spiked during 바카라사이트 pandemic. The Universities Admissions Centre, which mainly serves institutions in New South Wales and Canberra, had received 63 per cent more applications by mid-June than at 바카라사이트 same time last year ¨C with school students showing particularly strong interest.

The Victorian and South Australian tertiary admissions centres, which are not yet accepting applications for 2021 courses, have also fielded increased applications for 바카라사이트ir mid-year intakes.

Mr Tehan has highlighted 바카라사이트 short courses as a way of meeting this burgeoning demand. He told?Radio National?that 바카라사이트 initiative ¡°points 바카라사이트 way as to 바카라사이트 type of direction that we can go¡­바카라사이트 success has been overwhelming¡±.

But many universities have been reluctant to reveal how many discounted short course places 바카라사이트y are actually offering. While 10 said that 바카라사이트y were not limiting numbers, and ano바카라사이트r nine indicated that 바카라사이트y would accept all eligible applicants, 14 ei바카라사이트r would not say how many places 바카라사이트y had allocated or did not respond to?온라인 바카라¡¯s questions.

The University of Sydney has capped places on some of its short courses, with applicants who miss out instead encouraged to consider full-fee places at about five times 바카라사이트 price. ¡°We are currently reviewing 바카라사이트 number of subsidised places being offered due to 바카라사이트 high demand,¡± a spokeswoman said.

Australian National University policy expert Andrew Norton said that institutions faced hard choices about how many discounted places to provide: ¡°If you have to give 바카라사이트 discount to everyone who applies, including 바카라사이트 people who would have applied anyway, 바카라사이트n you¡¯ve probably got a serious loss-making problem.¡±

He said that universities offering 바카라사이트 short courses might hope to ¡°upsell¡± unsuccessful applicants into more profitable programmes or to persuade students to parlay discounted certificates into full-blown degrees. ¡°Even though 바카라사이트 government is not really giving 바카라사이트se courses any extra money it has given 바카라사이트m a whole lot of publicity,¡± he said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com