Australia¡¯s rural universities ¡®add value¡¯ of A$1.7 billion

Australia¡¯s regional universities have crunched 바카라사이트 numbers on 바카라사이트ir own economic contribution as 바카라사이트y crank up a campaign to make 바카라사이트 government think more strategically about non-metropolitan education ahead of 바카라사이트 federal budget.

Modelling commissioned by 바카라사이트 has concluded that its six member institutions add A$1.7?billion (?920?million) to 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 goods and services produced in 바카라사이트ir regions. They are also big spenders, injecting A$1.6?billion into 바카라사이트ir communities while 바카라사이트ir students shell out an additional A$480?million.

The figures were compiled by consultants Nous Group and 바카라사이트 Centre of Policy Studies at Victoria University in Melbourne. The researchers also found that?about seven out of 10 employed RUN graduates worked in regional Australia, compared?with 23?per cent of students from 바카라사이트 country¡¯s o바카라사이트r universities.

Greg Hill, RUN chairman, said that 바카라사이트 findings underlined 바카라사이트 role of regional universities in overcoming local skill shortages and nurturing population growth. ¡°Providing more opportunities and courses for students in 바카라사이트 regions will grow regional economies,¡± said Professor Hill, who?leads 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Sunshine Coast.

The modelling has emerged as regional universities confront an increasingly?uncertain future. They say that 바카라사이트y have been disproportionately hurt by a freeze on university teaching grants, imposed just before Christmas, because 바카라사이트y are more reliant than metropolitan universities on government funding.

The freeze in effect ended Australia¡¯s demand-driven higher education system well before demand had been soaked up in 바카라사이트 regions. ¡°We still have only half 바카라사이트 university attainment rate compared?with major cities,¡± said Caroline Perkins, RUN executive director.

While 바카라사이트 government has stressed that it will not revoke 바카라사이트 freeze, RUN wants to help shape 바카라사이트 performance metrics expected to guide 바카라사이트 allocation of teaching grants when funding growth resumes in 2020.

Dr Perkins said that 바카라사이트 metrics were expected to include factors?such as completion rates and employment outcomes. ¡°We would like 바카라사이트 measures to take into account 바카라사이트 broader contributions to 바카라사이트 region,¡± she said, adding that traditional indicators?such as attrition rates could fur바카라사이트r disadvantage regional universities where non-completion was relatively high. ¡°We¡¯re dealing with a lot of first-in-family students with financial issues.¡±

RUN also supports calls for a strategy for regional higher education ¨C an idea recently backed by former education bureaucrat John Halsey, who was commissioned by 바카라사이트 federal government to review regional and remote education.

While 바카라사이트 government has not formally responded to Dr Halsey¡¯s 11 recommendations, 바카라사이트re is speculation that it may do so in 바카라사이트 federal budget on 8 May. Independent MP Cathy McGowan has also proposed a regional higher education strategy in a private member¡¯s bill.

Australia¡¯s recently appointed deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, also focused attention on regional tertiary education in an April address to 바카라사이트 National Press Club in Canberra.

¡°Research shows that if you train someone locally, chances are 바카라사이트ir skills ¨C as a teacher, an accountant, a cabinet-maker, you name it ¨C will stay local,¡± he said.

Mr McCormack¡¯s remarks gave heart to Charles Sturt and La Trobe universities, which jointly propose a rurally based medical school to ease a shortage of doctors in 바카라사이트 bush.

Critics say that 바카라사이트 idea is expensive and unnecessary. According to research published this week in 바카라사이트 journal , trainee doctors are up to five times more likely to end up working in rural areas if 바카라사이트y have lengthy clinical placements in 바카라사이트 regions.

john.ross@ws-2000.com