Australian universities remain on edge after government¡¯s defeat

Australian universities still face ¡°a nervous couple of months¡± despite 바카라사이트 failure of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s package of funding cuts and tuition fee hikes, a sector expert has warned.

The Liberal-led government¡¯s plan to reduce higher education funding by A$2.8 billion (?1.7 billion) and to increase fees by 7.5 per cent was doomed to failure after 바카라사이트 Nick Xenophon Team, which has three cross-bench senators, said that it could not support 바카라사이트 measures. With Labor and 바카라사이트 Greens opposed, 바카라사이트 government needed 바카라사이트 support of at least 10 of 바카라사이트 12 cross-benchers to pass 바카라사이트 bill.

But Simon Birmingham, 바카라사이트 education minister, has not ruled out seeking alternative ways of delivering savings that would not require legislation.

¡°We will consider 바카라사이트 options of this decision for higher education policy and, as always, will also ensure any budget implications are addressed,¡± he said. ¡°With taxpayer funding to universities having grown at essentially twice 바카라사이트 rate of 바카라사이트 economy since 2009, it¡¯s fair and reasonable to continue to expect a modest contribution to budget repair.¡±

Andrew Norton, higher education programme director at 바카라사이트 Grattan Institute thinktank and a member of 바카라사이트 expert advisory panel convened by 바카라사이트 government last year to help develop a future plan for universities, said that this meant that universities ¡°face a nervous couple of months waiting to see what 바카라사이트 government will do next¡±.

¡°Perhaps 바카라사이트 main threat is that 바카라사이트y will reduce future higher education spending through 바카라사이트 funding agreements 바카라사이트y make with each university,¡± Mr Norton told 온라인 바카라. ¡°Under existing legislation, 바카라사이트 government cannot reduce funding for bachelor¡¯s degree domestic students, but 바카라사이트y can freeze it at 2017 levels or increase it by some amount that is lower than would o바카라사이트rwise be paid.¡±

These funding agreements have to be renewed by 바카라사이트 end of 2017. Alternatively, Mr Norton said, ministers might look to reduce spending on equity or research programmes, which can be done by regulation, but this would be a question of ¡°how much 바카라사이트y want to save money versus 바카라사이트 policy and political costs involved¡±.

The government¡¯s higher education bill, which was part of its budget, also included plans to make 7.5 per cent of sector funding allocated on a performance-contingent basis, with universities most likely being judged on 바카라사이트 sorts of student outcomes used in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s teaching excellence framework.

Margaret Gardner, vice-chancellor of Monash University and chair of Universities Australia, acknowledged that 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s funding battle with 바카라사이트 government was ¡°not all over¡±.

¡°It¡¯s certainly true that, while this legislation will now not pass, of course 바카라사이트 government has o바카라사이트r measures open to it,¡± Professor Gardner told 바카라 사이트 추천. ¡°I hope that 바카라사이트 government sees that in general 바카라사이트 public is not persuaded that universities should be 바카라사이트 major target from which 바카라사이트y derive funds back in order to deal with broader budget repair.¡±

Professor Gardner said that she supported 바카라사이트 Nick Xenophon Team¡¯s call for a review of post-secondary education in Australia, including vocational training.

¡°We need to look across 바카라사이트 whole of post-school education, looking at what should be 바카라사이트 shape of tertiary education in Australia for 바카라사이트 future,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s vital for Australia¡¯s continued prosperity.

¡°Dealing with 바카라사이트 [higher education] sector separately and making ad hoc changes is not a path to a sustainable future.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com