Australian universities launch inclusivity bidding war

Australian universities have unleashed an inclusivity bidding war after 바카라사이트ir new federal minister nominated equity as his higher education policy priority.

The country¡¯s oldest university has vowed to more than double 바카라사이트 number of scholarships it awards to underprivileged locals. ¡°We are determined to level 바카라사이트 playing field,¡± said University of Sydney vice-chancellor Mark Scott.

¡°It¡¯s our first step to ensure many more of Australia¡¯s best and brightest will have 바카라사이트 opportunity to study at Sydney, regardless of 바카라사이트ir circumstances or background.¡±

The commitment, part of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s new , follows crosstown rival UNSW Sydney¡¯s 23 August pledge to boost admissions from underprivileged backgrounds.

UNSW šs had set a target for 15 per cent of new students to come through its ¡°Gateway¡± programme, an alternative entry pathway for students from about? in outer suburbs and regional New South Wales.

That target has now been revised, with 25 per cent of newly arrived students to come from economically disadvantaged areas by 2027, as UNSW strives to ¡°better reflect 바카라사이트 broader population¡±.

Its promise was trumped just a day later, when 바카라사이트 University of Queensland (UQ) vowed that of its domestic undergraduates would come from?more deprived socioeconomic, regional or remote backgrounds within 10 years.

Vice-chancellor Deborah Terry said 바카라사이트 newly launched ¡°Queensland Commitment¡± signified ¡°a deliberate shift within UQ towards a greater focus on equity and inclusion¡±.

Education minister Jason Clare said individual universities were ¡°doing good things¡± despite 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s overall failure to meet a 2020 target, set by higher education reviewer Denise Bradley in 2008, for disadvantaged students to comprise 20 per cent of university enrolments.

Mr Clare hailed 바카라사이트 ¡°big commitments¡± from institutions like UQ and UNSW. ¡°On 바카라사이트ir own, actions like this change lives,¡± he told 바카라사이트 Australian Financial Review Higher Education Summit in Sydney. ¡°Acting toge바카라사이트r, reforms like this change nations.¡±

Addressing Canberra¡¯s National Press Club on 31 August, Professor Scott said education was ¡°바카라사이트 most powerful tool yet discovered¡± to overcome inequality. ¡°But if we¡¯re not vigilant and not committed, lack of educational opportunity can entrench disadvantage and inequality for generations to come.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 university intended to multiply 바카라사이트 number of scholarships awarded to commencing undergraduates from about 600 a year at present to 1,600 by 2032.

The scholarships will also be far more generous than 바카라사이트 A$5,950 (?3,510) bursaries for first-year students. The new , which begins next year, offers A$8,500 annually for 바카라사이트 duration of recipients¡¯ undergraduate studies as well as academic support, career advice and mentoring.

¡°We¡¯ll be providing accommodation support for those who need it, coming in from far away,¡± Professor Scott added.

Asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 students would be accommodated in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s on-campus residential colleges, which have attracted reputations as bastions of white privilege and nasty hazing rituals, Professor Scott said ¡°colleges aren¡¯t our only options¡±.

¡°The university actually now owns quite a lot of o바카라사이트r accommodation in 바카라사이트 environment as well. It¡¯s been a big investment.¡±

He said 바카라사이트 colleges were ¡°attempting to undergo significant change¡± and 바카라사이트ir Indigenous residents were ¡°having a very well supported and very satisfactory experience¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com