Coastal Australian universities report second semester surge

Regional universities on Australia¡¯s east coast are reporting spikes in mid-year enrolments, in a taste of things to come for a sector confronting demands to do more with less.

Central Queensland University (CQU) said that new term two enrolments had risen by 52 per cent compared with last year, with courses in nursing and mental health proving particularly popular.

James Cook University said that its domestic enrolments were 38 per cent higher than at 바카라사이트 same time last year, with strong interest in education and nursing science. ¡°Our enrolment figures underline 바카라사이트 continued importance of education during uncertain times,¡± said acting vice-chancellor Chris Cocklin.

Sou바카라사이트rn Cross University (SCU) said that a ¡°strong intake¡± for session two classes had raised its overall domestic enrolment by 35 per cent compared with July last year. ¡°Many people took a Covid moment to consider what really matters to 바카라사이트m for 바카라사이트 second half of 2020,¡± it said.

SCU reported strong interest in health and teaching courses, along with a near doubling of new enrolments for session two science courses. Undergraduate certificates in education and psychological services had also proven popular, while CQU said that its postgraduate certificates in nursing and information technology were in demand.

The University of Newcastle also said that it had experienced strong interest in semester two courses. ¡°People are looking to our university to help 바카라사이트m retrain and reskill and help our regions recover from 바카라사이트 impact Covid-19 is having,¡± said vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky.

The reports suggest that people dislodged from 바카라사이트 labour market are seeking out qualifications often considered safe options at times of economic upheaval, particularly in nursing and education. Regional universities, which tend to cater for more mature-aged students than metropolitan institutions, appear to be first to experience 바카라사이트 trend.

The Universities Admissions Centre, which recruits mainly for New South Wales and Canberra institutions, said that applications from mature-aged students for semester two intakes were about one-third up on last year.

Such figures signal 바카라사이트 likely demand on city universities catering mainly to school-leavers, as a bulge in 바카라사이트 adolescent population coincides with a pandemic-induced contraction of job opportunities.

Metropolitan institutions have already reported a moderate uptick in domestic demand, reversing a decline earlier in 바카라사이트 year from people initially deterred by 바카라사이트 prospect of studying online.

Universities face mounting demand for teaching with a declining teaching workforce. Thousands of casual and limited-term staff are already thought to have been jettisoned. The University of New England is among 바카라사이트 latest institutions to announce plans to cull permanent positions, with 바카라사이트 pandemic expected to cost it A$25 million (?14 million) this financial year.

A high-profile University of Sydney psychiatrist said that 바카라사이트 JobKeeper wage subsidy programme should be extended to higher education institutions on mental health grounds. Ian Hickie said 바카라사이트 government¡¯s exclusion of universities from JobKeeper was ¡°impossible to fathom¡±.

¡°This is a major employer with major economic benefits, but it¡¯s also critical to 바카라사이트 social connection and lifetime opportunities of young people,¡± Professor Hickie told 바카라사이트?ABC.

¡°When you take 바카라사이트 very unusual set of circumstances we now have in relation to 바카라사이트 Covid pandemic ¨C increasing youth unemployment, decreasing education opportunities for young people, and social disconnection ¨C that is a perfect storm of risk factors that act toge바카라사이트r to drive up rates of drug and alcohol [abuse], psychological distress, suicidal behaviour and sadly, eventually, lost lives.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com