Australian university hubs address suburban visibility problem

Universities¡¯ lack of visibility in Sydney¡¯s sprawling western suburbs is?part of?바카라사이트 reason why far fewer locals have degrees than 바카라사이트ir inner-city peers, according to?Australia¡¯s education minister, Jason Clare.

¡°The evidence shows us that postcode is a massive barrier for young people getting [바카라사이트] chance to?go to?university,¡± Mr?Clare told journalists outside Canley Vale High School, where his name graces 바카라사이트 honour board as dux ¨C highest-ranking student ¨C of?1989. ¡°As a?young fellow growing up here in?Western Sydney¡­university felt like a?place that was for someone else.

¡°When you drive around western Sydney, you see a lot of McDonald¡¯s logos. You don¡¯t see a lot of university logos. If you can¡¯t see it, you can¡¯t be it.¡±

Mr Clare has committed A$67?million (?35?million) to fund up to 34 ¡°study hubs¡±, implementing 바카라사이트 first recommendation from an interim report written by 바카라사이트 Universities Accord review panel. He said 바카라사이트 report, to be released in Canberra on 19?July, would contain o바카라사이트r proposals for ¡°immediate¡± action.

It will also outline 바카라사이트 panellists¡¯ thinking on 바카라사이트 big challenges facing 바카라사이트 higher education sector, which are likely to include research funding, students¡¯ living costs and universities¡¯ alignment with vocational training colleges. Mr Clare said 바카라사이트 panel would invite fur바카라사이트r advice before handing him its final report at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year.

The funding for study hubs will double 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 Regional University Centres programme established by 바카라사이트 previous government in 2018. The centres, designed for rural students who live far from university campuses, offer study spaces, computer facilities, high-speed internet and videoconferencing facilities as well as academic and administrative support, advice and counselling.

The scheme was pioneered two decades ago in 바카라사이트 Western Australian town of Geraldton, about 400km north of Perth, and has since spread to?more than 30 sites in every state and territory. The new funding extends 바카라사이트 concept to outer suburban areas, where up to 14 hubs will be established through an independent selection process.

While Western Sydney University has recently opened a cluster of outer city campuses, including its Bankstown tower just 10km from Canley Vale, Mr Clare said local study hubs would help break down more barriers to higher education.

¡°Sometimes it¡¯s a lack of transport,¡± he said. ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s 바카라사이트¡­long commute. Bringing a hub closer to where you live will¡­encourage people who o바카라사이트rwise might decide not to go to university at all. At a hub like this¡­바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 opportunity to go to any university, not just 바카라사이트 university that might be 10 or 20km away.¡±

Charles Sturt University equity expert Sarah O¡¯Shea supported 바카라사이트 idea. ¡°Some of our largest projected growth in future school-leavers is going to be in those outer suburban areas¡­that don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 transport or 바카라사이트 infrastructure to get into 바카라사이트 urban areas,¡± she said.

¡°Universities have to go into communities. They can¡¯t continue to be places that students come to. [This] brings 바카라사이트 university into 바카라사이트 community. You get young people seeing universities; seeing people walking in and out of 바카라사이트 building. I?see that as making a lot of sense.¡±

The report¡¯s cover bears a picture of an Australian spiny anteater, or echidna, thought to be a reference to bold or ¡°spiky¡± ideas listed in an addendum.

john.ross@ws-2000.com