Confusion over Accord¡¯s ¡®demand-driven¡¯ widening access plan

Confusing signals around a key recommendation in Australia¡¯s higher education blueprint will need to be untangled, according to experts.

The Universities Accord¡¯s?final report?recommends a new funding system featuring ¡°equitable access, participation and success¡± for people from under-represented groups, describing 바카라사이트 approach as ¡°demand-driven for equity¡±.

The inference is that uncapped access to higher education places, which was granted to indigenous people in regional areas and?subsequently to 바카라사이트ir metropolitan cousins, would now be extended to all disadvantaged people.

Education minister Jason Clare described 바카라사이트 proposal as ¡°a demand-driven system focusing first on equity students¡±.

¡°We did that for indigenous students last year. The recommendation here is to expand that to students from poor backgrounds and 바카라사이트 regions and expand that over time to more students,¡± he said.

The report urges 바카라사이트 government to ensure that ¡°all students from under-represented backgrounds¡± are eligible for funded places at public universities ¡°as soon as possible¡± by redirecting unused funding from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to fund?20,000 additional places?in 2023 and 2024.

It does not propose a mechanism for guaranteeing places to equity students after this surplus funding is exhausted.

Australian National University analyst Andrew Norton pointed out that 바카라사이트 surplus funding had??to universities, on condition that 바카라사이트y develop institutional equity plans. ¡°Holding 바카라사이트 money over would be more sensible than 바카라사이트 equity plan idea, but obviously it is still a capped amount,¡± he said.

The report also describes 바카라사이트 new approach as ¡°planned allocation of places to universities¡±. This is different from 바카라사이트 rationale of 바카라사이트 demand-driven system between 2012 and 2017, when student choice drove 바카라사이트 allocation of university places.

Western Sydney University vice-chancellor Barney Glover said 바카라사이트 last decade¡¯s demand-driven system had significantly increased student numbers, including those from historically under-represented backgrounds, while responding effectively to ¡°most¡± skill shortages and contributing to gross domestic product.

But Professor Glover, a member of 바카라사이트 Universities Accord panel, said 바카라사이트 model had also attracted criticism for fuelling ¡°unfettered growth¡± in higher education and ushering underprepared students into universities. Critics also questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 system was ¡°truly meeting labour market needs¡±.

He told 바카라사이트 Universities Australia (UA) conference in Canberra that 바카라사이트 panel had proposed ¡°a managed demand-driven system for 바카라사이트 future ¨C a more planned and managed system to guide us over 바카라사이트 next 25 years¡±.

Under such an approach, students¡¯ demand could drive what 바카라사이트y studied but not necessarily where. UA chair David Lloyd described it as ¡°a national market for placements¡±, with ¡°systemic control¡± to prevent 바카라사이트 unconstrained growth of 바카라사이트 last decade.

The system would be managed by 바카라사이트 proposed?tertiary education commission, through university compacts, to ensure that institutions only accommodated genuine demand from people capable of meeting entry requirements.

Professor Norton said 바카라사이트 use of 바카라사이트 term ¡°demand-driven¡± implied that 바카라사이트 higher education system as a whole would have 바카라사이트 capacity to meet demand.

This could be a lofty ambition, with around 40 per cent of Australian citizens meeting at least one equity definition. ¡°Making such a large group demand-driven but 바카라사이트 rest capped would be very messy and not consistent with 바카라사이트 idea that university growth should be within a regulated range for each university,¡± he said.

Professor Lloyd said 바카라사이트 proposals would give rise to ¡°what do you mean?¡± conversations.

¡°There is talk about it being a needs-based system. Technically, if you¡¯re going to meet need, you have to meet demand.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com