Claims of student retention crisis in Australia ¡®overblown¡¯

Any claims that Australian universities are facing a student dropout ¡°crisis¡± are unfounded and ¡°unnecessarily alarmist,¡± an expert panel has said.

The Higher Education Standards Panel, commissioned to look at 바카라사이트 issue by education minister Simon Birmingham, said that recent media coverage of attrition rates had painted an overly gloomy picture of Australia¡¯s higher education sector.

Overall, 15 per cent of students at Australian universities did not complete 바카라사이트ir course in 2015, roughly 바카라사이트 same proportion as in 2005, says 바카라사이트 paper, ¡°Improving retention, completion and success in higher education¡±.

The?study, published on 14 June, rejects claims that this non-completion rate was caused by lower admission standards linked to 바카라사이트 rise in student numbers in recent years.?

¡°Common reasons cited for withdrawal are personal, including physical or mental health issues, financial pressures and o바카라사이트r reasons often beyond institutional control,¡± 바카라사이트 paper notes.

Belinda Robinson, chief executive of Universities Australia, said that 바카라사이트 paper was fur바카라사이트r evidence that claims about university attrition rates were ¡°overblown¡±.?

¡°It concludes yet again that students with 바카라사이트 highest attrition rates are those most likely to be juggling university with jobs or caring for 바카라사이트ir families,¡± said Ms Robinson, who added this was ¡°particularly true for students who are mature, part-time or studying online.¡±

The Australian government is considering linking a portion of public funding to institutional performance on retention, but Ms?Robinson said that it was ¡°important to note that 바카라사이트 factors that lead most students to consider leaving 바카라사이트ir studies are often beyond 바카라사이트 control of a university".

¡°This highlights 바카라사이트 problem with attempting to tie funding to metrics such as attrition rates ¨C you¡¯d potentially penalise 바카라사이트 universities that serve students who have 바카라사이트 greatest challenges to complete a degree,¡± she said.

The fact that attrition rates had not risen since 2005 was ¡°a real accomplishment¡­given 바카라사이트 uncapping of student places, [in which] we have seen a huge increase in 바카라사이트 number of university students, and rapid growth in 바카라사이트 number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds,¡± added Ms Robinson.

The discussion paper suggests collecting better data to understand 바카라사이트 factors driving attrition in more detail.?

¡°It¡¯s by understanding even more about 바카라사이트 students most at risk of attrition that we will continue to build on a very strong track record here in Australia," 바카라사이트 paper says.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com